Clinical Trials
Tiziana Life Sciences, a biotechnology company developing immunomodulation therapies, announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging have awarded a $4m grant to Dr Howard Weiner as principal investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to be the key research site to study nasal anti-CD3 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The NIH grant will allow ongoing research efforts to continue, including preclinical studies and preparations for clinical trials, for nasal anti-CD3. The research will look at its ability to modulate immune system activity, reduce neuroinflammation and ultimately slow the progression of AD. Anti-CD3 is administered intranasally, binding to the T-cell receptor and stimulating T regulatory cells for delivery to the central nervous system.
Howard L Weiner MD, principal investigator, chairman of Tiziana’s Scientific Advisory Board and codirector of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, stated: “AD is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than six million people in the US alone. Despite extensive research, effective treatments remain limited, and the need for innovative therapeutic approaches is urgent.”
Ivor Elrifi, CEO of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented, “We are thrilled to be able to progress our pipeline with this prestigious NIH grant, which underscores the potential of our antiCD3 therapy to address a critical unmet need in AD. This funding will enable us to expand our research and move one step closer to developing a new therapeutic option for patients and families impacted by this debilitating condition. At Tiziana, we remain committed to advancing science that could improve the quality of life for patients through groundbreaking immunotherapies.”
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK.