Tiziana Life Sciences Announces New Quantitative PET Imaging Data on Foralumab at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology

Oral presentation of study shows intranasal foralumab attenuates microglial activation and disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with PIRA as measured by changes in PET scans

NEW YORK, April 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiziana Life Sciences, Ltd. (Nasdaq: TLSA) (“Tiziana” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company developing breakthrough immunomodulation therapies via novel routes of drug delivery, today announces a platform presentation titled, “Treatment of PIRA with Nasal Foralumab Dampens Microglial Activation and Stabilizes Clinical Progression in Non-Active Secondary Progressive MS” at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Denver, Colorado. The presentation includes new, encouraging quantitative imaging data from foralumab’s intermediate- size patient population Expanded Access Program. In the presentation, foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal-antibody showed the attenuation of microglial activation in patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (na-SPMS) based on positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and disease stabilization in na-SPMS patients with disease progression independent of relapse (PIRA).

Gabriele Cerrone, Chairman, acting CEO and founder of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented, “Tiziana is taking a leadership role in focusing on this subset of progressive MS where there are no effective treatments. One of the mechanisms thought to contribute to na-SPMS with PIRA is the activation of microglial cells, for which there have historically been no good biomarkers in humans. However, [F18]PBR06-PET is a novel imaging technique using a ligand with a long half-life, and therefore serves as a viable proof-of-concept to show the binding and dampening of active microglia. We are now able to quantify these immunologic changes via PET scan in na-SPMS patients. The mechanism of action seen thus far with foralumab is significant since a major unmet need in MS is developing therapy for na-SPMS with PIRA and being able to dampen associated neuro inflammation.”

The oral presentation, delivered by Tarun Singhal, M.B.B.S., M.D., Director of the PET Imaging Program in Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham Healthcare System, and Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, assesses the effect of intranasal foralumab on microglial activation in na-SPMS patients with PIRA as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging via [F-18]PBR06-PET, a novel, long-half-life ligand used in PET scanning. The study is designed to be open-label and part of the Expanded-Access Program evaluating foralumab in na-SPMS patients that is currently underway.