Tiziana Life Sciences Announces Significant Reduction in Microglia Activation in PET Scan of Moderate Alzheimer's Patient Treated with Intranasal Foralumab
- Significant reduction in microglia activation observed in PET scan, indicating decreased neuroinflammation
- No side effects reported in the patient during treatment
- Potential application as both standalone and combination therapy for Alzheimer's
- Results consistent with positive outcomes seen in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis patients
- Treatment shows promise for addressing large market need with over 50 million Alzheimer's patients globally
- Study results based on only one patient
- Treatment still in early stages of development
- Long-term efficacy and safety data not yet available
Insights
Tiziana's intranasal foralumab shows promising neuroinflammation reduction in Alzheimer's patient via PET scan, indicating potential treatment pathway beyond amyloid-targeting.
Tiziana Life Sciences has shared compelling preliminary evidence for their intranasal foralumab in Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. A PET scan revealed significant reduction in microglia activation - a key neuroinflammation marker - in a moderate AD patient after just three months of treatment under an expanded access program.
What makes this finding particularly noteworthy is the mechanism of action. While most approved AD therapies target amyloid plaques, foralumab works by dampening neuroinflammation through regulatory T-cell induction. These Tregs travel to the brain and reduce inflammatory processes that contribute to cognitive decline. This represents a fundamentally different approach to AD treatment.
The PET scan visualization showed widespread reduction in TSPO signal (the microglial activation marker), consistent with previous observations in multiple sclerosis patients treated with the same compound. Importantly, this single case report noted no side effects in the patient, who continues treatment.
From a neurological perspective, this approach addresses a critical gap in the AD treatment landscape. Current FDA-approved therapies predominantly target early-stage disease with amyloid-reducing mechanisms. Foralumab's potential in moderate AD represents an area of enormous unmet need, as no effective treatments exist for this patient population. Additionally, the mechanism suggests potential applications across multiple neurodegenerative conditions characterized by neuroinflammation.
While this represents data from just a single patient case and requires larger clinical validation, the magnitude of microglial suppression and tolerability profile warrant attention. The company appears to be positioning foralumab as both a standalone therapy for moderate AD and a potential combination approach with amyloid-targeting drugs for earlier-stage disease.
NEW YORK, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiziana Life Sciences, Ltd. (Nasdaq: TLSA) (“Tiziana” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company developing breakthrough immunomodulation therapies with its lead development candidate, intranasal foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, today announced results of a PET scan showing a marked reduction in microglia activation associated with neuroinflammation in a patient suffering from moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) who was treated for three months with intranasal foralumab under an expanded access program. The microglial TSPO PET scan revealed a significant decrease in microglia activation, a key indicator of neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease progression.
Figure 1.
Figure 1. Decrease in PET signal after foralumab treatment (bottom row) as compared to pre-treatment baseline (top-row). Adapted from Singhal T et al. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 2025 (in press).
The above data was presented by Dr. Howard Weiner at the 2025 AD/PD Conference in Vienna and is featured in the AlzForum. The complete report is contained in Singhal et al, “Dampening of microglial activation with nasal foralumab administration in moderate Alzheimer’s Disease dementia”, Clinical Nuclear Medicine 2025, in press.
Link to article in AlzForum: https://www.alzforum.org/news/conference-coverage/therapies-aim-tame-t-cells-brain
Microglial activation is increasingly recognized as a critical component of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease. In Alzheimer’s, this activation is thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis alongside increased beta-amyloid and tau protein levels. Cognitive decline in AD may have multiple etiologies apart from amyloid and tau accumulation, highlighting the need for treatments beyond amyloid-targeting therapies.
Nasal foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, has shown efficacy in dampening microglial activation through the induction of Tregs, which travel to the brain and reduce neuroinflammation. This therapeutic effect has been confirmed in animal models and observed in subjects with secondary progressive MS. Nasal foralumab also holds promise as a potential adjunctive therapy to recently approved products that are focused on amyloid reduction.
Dr. Howard Weiner, Co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham healthcare system, commented on the findings: “There has been a substantial drop in TSPO signal over the three-month period, suggesting that the foralumab treatment might be reducing microglial activation and this is highly encouraging. This suggests that Foralumab may play a crucial role in mitigating neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's patients. We are pleased to say we have also not seen any side effects so far in the study and the patient continues to be treated with foralumab.”
Tarun Singhal, M.B.B.S., M.D., Director of the PET Imaging Program in Neurologic Diseases, associate neurologist and nuclear medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, added: “We have seen a measurable, widespread reduction in microglial PET signal, which is quite remarkable. This reduction is consistent with what has been seen in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with intranasal foralumab. Further studies incorporating additional cases and PET analytical approaches in moderate Alzheimer’s disease, which is an area of huge unmet need, are urgently needed.”
Dr. Ivor Elrifi, CEO of Tiziana Life Sciences, emphasized the significance of these findings: “This PET scan data represents a critical milestone for Tiziana Life Sciences and underscores our commitment to advancing innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease. With no approved therapies currently available for moderate Alzheimer's, we believe Foralumab holds promise not only as a standalone treatment but also potentially in combination therapies for mild Alzheimer's disease.”
Gabriele Cerrone, Executive Chairman and Founder of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented: “This PET scan result showing a dampening of microglial activation by nasal foralumab in a patient with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, demonstrates the potential for foralumab to fight many neurologic diseases by treating neuroinflammation. This reduction of microglia activation is consistent with the results we have seen in our ongoing study of patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, who have shown a stabilization or improvement of symptoms of disease through prolonged foralumab treatment.”
Alzheimer's disease affects over 50 million people globally, with numbers expected to triple by 2050. The urgent need for effective treatments, especially in the moderate stages, highlights the importance of innovative research and development efforts such as those undertaken by Tiziana Life Sciences.
About Foralumab
Foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, is a biological drug candidate that has been shown to stimulate T regulatory cells when dosed intranasally. At present, 10 patients with Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (na-SPMS) have been dosed in an open-label intermediate sized Expanded Access (EA) Program (NCT06802328) with either an improvement or stability of disease seen within 6 months in all patients. In addition, intranasal foralumab is currently being studied in a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-ranging trial in patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (NCT06292923).
Foralumab is the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) currently in clinical development. The non-active SPMS intranasal foralumab Phase 2 trial (NCT06292923) began screening patients in November of 2023. Immunomodulation by intranasal foralumab represents a novel avenue for the treatment of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative human diseases.[1],[2]
About Tiziana Life Sciences
Tiziana Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing breakthrough therapies using transformational drug delivery technologies to enable alternative routes of immunotherapy. Tiziana’s innovative nasal approach has the potential to provide an improvement in efficacy as well as safety and tolerability compared to intravenous (IV) delivery. Tiziana’s lead candidate, intranasal foralumab, which is the only fully human anti-CD3 mAb currently in clinical development, has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and clinical response in patients in studies to date. Tiziana’s technology for alternative routes of immunotherapy has been patented with several applications pending and is expected to allow for broad pipeline applications.
For more information about Tiziana Life Sciences and its innovative pipeline of therapies, please visit www.tizianalifesciences.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry, its beliefs, and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in Tiziana’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.
For further inquiries:
Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd
Paul Spencer, Business Development, and Investor Relations
+44 (0) 207 495 2379
email: info@tizianalifesciences.com
[1] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220272120
[2] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309221120
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/248d2d9e-1743-4aa0-b112-11086779a2fa
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