March 8, 2023
BWH’s investigators test Foralumab in pilot trial for Covid-19
Manufactured by Tiziana Life Sciences, Foralumab stimulates the immune system's regulatory T cells.
The investigators found evidence that Foralumab dampened the inflammatory T cell response and minimised lung inflammation in Covid-19 patients.
Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have tested the nasal administration of Foralumab, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as part of a pilot trial where the drug decreased inflammatory markers in Covid-19 patients.
BWH is a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.
In this trial, the investigators found evidence that Foralumab dampened the inflammatory T cell response and minimised lung inflammation in Covid-19 patients.
Based on further analysis, the same gene expression modulation was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis, who experienced decreased brain inflammation.
This suggested that the drug could be used for the treatment of other diseases.
BWH Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases assistant scientist Thais Moreira said: “We discovered a way to shut down inflammation not only seen in Covid-19, but also in a patient with multiple sclerosis, as well as in healthy patients.
“This is very exciting because not only does our study suggest that this new monoclonal antibody drug is safe and can modulate the immune system without major side effects, but it can also decrease inflammation in multiple realms, so it may be useful for treating other diseases.”
The immune system was found to be overactive in both Covid-19 and multiple sclerosis.
Manufactured by Tiziana Life Sciences, Foralumab stimulates the immune system’s regulatory T cells or anti-inflammatory cells to decrease inflammation.
The team is proceeding with a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in progressive multiple sclerosis and is also planning a new study for long Covid.
The Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases provided funding for the study.