Tiziana Life Sciences to expedite development of TZLS-501 for COVID-19

Tiziana Life Sciences, a biotechnology company focussed on innovative therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, announced that it is expediting the development of TZLS-501, a novel, fully human anti-interleukin-6 receptor (anti-IL6R) monoclonal antibody (mAb) for treatment of patients infected with coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Tiziana plans to administer TZLS-501 using a proprietary formulation technology. The company entered into a worldwide license for composition-of-matter of TZLS-501, a fully human mAb targeting IL-6R, with Novimmune, a Swiss biotechnology company in 2017.

Certain patients infected with coronavirus COVID-19 may develop an uncontrolled immune response (cytokine storm) resulting in severe damage to lung tissue which could lead to respiratory failure. Early clinical studies conducted by doctors in China suggest that anti-IL6R mAbs may be used in clinical practice for the treatment of COVID-19.

Tiziana’s anti-IL-6R mAb binds to both the membrane-bound and soluble forms of IL-6R and rapidly depletes circulating levels of IL-6 in the blood. Excessive production of IL-6 is regarded as a key driver of chronic inflammation and is believed to be associated with severe lung damage observed with COVID-19 infections and acute respiratory illness.

"We believe that the features of TZLS-501 consisting of its dual mechanism of action to inhibit signalling by the membrane-bound and soluble IL-6 receptors along with rapid depletion of circulating IL-6 cytokine, a major cause of lung damage, provides TZLS-501 with distinct advantages for treatment of COVD-19 over other anti-IL-6R mAbs such as Actemra and Kevzara for treatment of COVID-19. The recent decision by researchers in China to add Actemra to treatment guidelines for coronavirus patients with serious lung damage confirms the utility of anti-IL6R mAb. We are excited to move forward with our clinical development plan to expedite evaluation in patients as soon as possible," said Dr Kunwar Shailubhai, CEO and CSO, Tiziana Life Sciences.

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