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NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2024 (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 positive results demonstrating the anti-inflammatory potential of our anti-CD3 antibody (foralumab) in combination with semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist marketed by Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The data show that the combination of nasal anti-CD3 plus semaglutide improves liver homeostasis and reduces inflammation in models of diet-induced obesity (DIO), providing a potential novel approach to combat obesity-related inflammation, and liver inflammation and dysfunction. Key Highlights: Nasal anti-CD3 in combination with semaglutide demonstrates synergistic effects in promoting liver homeostasis in preclinical models of diet-induced obesity.The combination significantly reduces inflammation markers, a key factor in obesity-related metabolic disorders. Figure 1: Nasal anti-CD3 with Low and High Dose semaglutide promote Liver Homeostasis in DIO PBS= Placebo, HFD= High Fat Diet, LD= Low Dose, HD= High Dose, Sema= Semaglutide, aCD3= Study Version of Foralumab In Figure 1, the far-right column shows the explanted liver and histology of that liver at two magnifications for a mouse fed a low-fat chow “normal” diet (“lean mouse”). The dark and smaller liver on the right is a typical healthy liver from a lean mouse. All the mice under the gray bar in the figure were fed a high fat chow (“HFD”) resulting in diet-induced obesity. As the columns outlined by red boxes demonstrate, administration of the combination of nasal anti-CD3 and semaglutide had livers that looked more like the liver from the lean mouse. The HFD mice given low dose or high dose semaglutide alone had enlarged fatty livers that were more similar to the HFD control. In humans, nasal foralumab modulates immune responses by inducing regulatory-type T cells. Semaglutide is an effective therapy for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, known for its role in enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing body weight. This study, conducted by Dr. Howard Weiner and Selma Boulenouar PhD, and a research team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, demonstrates that nasal anti-CD3 in combination with Semaglutide, helps restore liver homeostasis in diet-induced obesity models where liver dysfunction and inflammation are prominent. The combination therapy led to marked reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines and significant improvements in liver markers associated with metabolic regulation. This suggests a dual benefit in both managing obesity and preventing its associated inflammation-related complications. "We are excited by the potential of this novel combination. Nasal foralumab’s ability to modulate immune response in humans has always been promising. Now, combining anti-CD3 with semaglutide resulted in additional benefit on liver homeostasis and reduced inflammation in this mouse model. This could pave the way for an entirely new approach in treating obesity-related metabolic disorders," said Dr. Howard L. Weiner, Chairman of Tiziana’s Scientific Advisory Board and 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. Selma Boulenouar PhD, a leading researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who co-led the study, commented: "The results of this study are very encouraging. Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of obesity and liver diseases. The combination of anti-CD3 with Semaglutide appears to mitigate this inflammatory response and restore normal liver function. These findings underscore the potential for combination therapies in addressing complex metabolic and inflammatory conditions." Obesity is a growing global health concern, with associated metabolic disorders including insulin resistance, NAFLD, and chronic inflammation contributing to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. The combination of nasal Foralumab for modulating the immune system and semaglutide for weight management offers a novel therapeutic combination that addresses both the metabolic and inflammatory aspects of obesity. Ivor Elrifi, CEO of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented, "We are excited by these findings, which demonstrate nasal Foralumab’s potential to significantly enhance the therapeutic effects of semaglutide. This combination may present a breakthrough approach to treating not only obesity but also the downstream metabolic complications that are often hard to manage with current therapies. We would like to thank Howard and Selma and the BWH team for their thorough study that has taken many months to complete. We look forward to the full publication of these findings in a peer-reviewed journal." Tiziana plans to advance these promising preclinical findings into further clinical development, with the goal of initiating in-human clinical trials in the future. This effort is aligned with the Company’s commitment to pioneering innovative solutions for inflammatory and metabolic diseases, leveraging the immunomodulatory properties of Foralumab. The study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is part of Tiziana's broader development program for Foralumab, which includes other inflammatory and autoimmune indications. The Company remains dedicated to advancing scientific innovations to address unmet medical needs across diverse therapeutic areas. 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 with either an improvement or stability of disease seen within 6 months in all patients. The FDA has recently allowed an additional 20 patients to be enrolled in this EA program. 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). Activated T cells play an important role in the inflammatory process. Foralumab, the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) currently in clinical development, binds to the T cell receptor and dampens inflammation by modulating T cell function, thereby suppressing effector features in multiple immune cell subsets. This effect has been observed in patients with COVID and with multiple sclerosis, as well as in healthy normal subjects. The non-active SPMS intranasal foralumab Phase 2 trial (NCT06292923) began screening patients in November of 2023. Immunomodulation by nasal anti-CD3 mAb represents a novel avenue for 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, 2023, 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 LtdPaul Spencer, Business Development and Investor Relations+44 (0) 207 495 2379email: info@tizianalifesciences.com [1] https://www-pnas-org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220272120 [2] https://www-pnas-org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309221120 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b407c72c-eb35-4624-a292-a44b5f4af403

Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., to step down as President and CEOBoard to initiate search process to identify new CEO ROCKVILLE, MD, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MacroGenics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGNX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., intends to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer early next year. The Company’s Board of Directors has retained Heidrick & Struggles to lead a search process to identify its next Chief Executive Officer and has established a special committee of the Board to oversee the transition process. William Heiden, Chairman of the Board of Directors said, “Scott was a co-founder of MacroGenics twenty-four years ago and the Company has achieved many milestones under his leadership – including several partnered or company-owned FDA approved monoclonal antibody therapeutics developed by the company. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Scott for his incredible dedication to the Company’s mission of discovering and developing novel therapeutics to improve patient care.” Mr. Heiden continued, “Today, MacroGenics has several innovative antibody-based therapeutics in development for the treatment of cancer, as well as significant alliances with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop and commercialize novel therapeutics. The Company today has a broad portfolio of promising assets and a strong balance sheet, and the Board and Scott agreed that this is the right time to transition to our next phase of leadership. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his perspectives as an advisor and shareholder.” “I am proud of our many achievements since our founding in 2000, in which we built a fully integrated, science-focused biotechnology company and have been successful in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing novel immunotherapeutics derived from our proprietary Fc-engineered antibody, bi-specific DART molecule, and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technologies,” said Dr. Koenig. “Since the company’s IPO in 2013, we were able to fund a significant part of the development portfolio through the achievement of over $1 billion of non-dilutive capital via partnerships. Thanks to the incredible passion and dedication of the people at MacroGenics, three novel therapeutics from our pipeline advanced to approval, including MARGENZA® and ZYNYZ® to treat patients with cancer, and TZIELD® for individuals with early-stage Type 1 diabetes, and we have advanced a rich portfolio of clinical and preclinical molecules in development. I am confident that MacroGenics is well positioned in its current mission to address the significant unmet medical needs of patients with cancer. I look forward to continuing to support the Company in its work to achieve its key strategic objectives and create value for all our stakeholders.” About MacroGenics, Inc. MacroGenics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Company generates its pipeline of product candidates primarily from its proprietary suite of next-generation antibody-based technology platforms, which have applicability across broad therapeutic domains. The combination of MacroGenics' technology platforms and protein engineering expertise has allowed the Company to generate promising product candidates and enter into several strategic collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For more information, please see the Company's website at www.macrogenics.com. MacroGenics, the MacroGenics logo and MARGENZA are trademarks or registered trademarks of MacroGenics, Inc. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for MacroGenics (“Company”), including statements about the Company’s strategy, future operations, clinical development of and regulatory plans for the Company’s therapeutic candidates, expected timing of the release of final safety and efficacy data, including mature median rPFS and other statements containing the words “subject to”, "believe", “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “potential,” “project”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “can”, the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks that TZIELD, vobramitamab duocarmazine, lorigerlimab, ZYNYZ, MARGENZA or any other product candidate’s revenue, expenses and costs may not be as expected, risks relating to TZIELD, vobramitamab duocarmazine, lorigerlimab, ZYNYZ, MARGENZA or any other product candidate’s market acceptance, competition, reimbursement and regulatory actions; future data updates, especially timing and results of mature median radiographic progression-free survival, other efficacy and safety data with respect to vobramitamab duocarmazine; our ability to provide manufacturing services to our customers; the uncertainties inherent in the initiation and enrollment of future clinical trials; the availability of financing to fund the internal development of our product candidates; expectations of expanding ongoing clinical trials; availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical trials; expectations for the timing and steps required in the regulatory review process; expectations for regulatory approvals; expectations of future milestone payments; the impact of competitive products; our ability to enter into agreements with strategic partners and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of the Company's product candidates; business, economic or political disruptions due to catastrophes or other events, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, civil unrest and actual or threatened armed conflict, or public health crises; costs of litigation and the failure to successfully defend lawsuits and other claims against us; and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views only as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. ###