Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) unveiled new preclinical data suggesting that its investigational therapy, intranasal foralumab, may offer a novel approach to addressing neuroinflammation associated with aging.
The company highlighted that neuro inflammation is widely recognized as a contributing factor to cognitive decline in age-related neurological conditions.
The study found that nasal delivery of anti-CD3 therapy was able to reverse several key features of brain aging and improve cognitive performance in preclinical models.
Among the primary findings, the therapy appeared to reduce activation of microglia—immune cells in the brain that, when overactive, can drive chronic inflammation. This reduction in neuroinflammation is considered significant, as persistent inflammatory processes have been strongly linked to age-related cognitive decline.
The study also reported increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a region of the brain essential for memory and learning. In addition, the treatment was associated with reduced cellular senescence, achieved through the downregulation of inflammatory markers and genes linked to aging.
Howard Weiner, chairman of the company’s Scientific Advisory Board and co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said the findings add to a growing body of evidence supporting the therapy’s mechanism.
“By targeting T cells to influence microglial behavior and promote brain repair mechanisms like neurogenesis, nasal anti-CD3 offers a differentiated, non-invasive approach with potential applications in age related cognitive impairment,” Weiner said.
Tiziana CEO Ivor Elrifi added that the that the results reinforce the proposed mechanism of intranasal foralumab, which involves stimulating regulatory T cells to reduce neuroinflammation.
Tiziana is currently evaluating intranasal foralumab in clinical trials for several neurological conditions, including non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, multiple system atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The company is also expanding its preclinical research into additional applications related to aging.
Shares of Tiziana added 6.8% on Wednesday morning.