Tiziana Life Sciences hires scientist with track record of successfully developing blockbuster monoclonal antibody products as its chief medical officer

Tiziana Life Sciences PLC (NASDAQ:TLSA) (LON:TILS) said it has hired an industry veteran with experience of successfully developing blockbuster monoclonal antibody products as its chief medical officer. At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: REGN) Dr Neil Graham was “instrumental” in bringing to market Dupixent, a blockbuster monoclonal antibody product for eczema and asthma, taking it from phase I to launch. During his tenure, he also led the product development for Kevzara, an IL-6R antibody for rheumatoid arthritis, which is now also being used to fight coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms. Graham’s experience will be crucial during the clinical evolution of Tiziana candidates Foralumab, a monoclonal antibody (mAB) treatment for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, Milciclib, for cancer, and TZLS-501, its anti-IL-6 drug. He hailed as a potential “game-changer” the ability to deliver antibody immuno-therapeutics both orally and nasally, an approach being pioneered with Foralumab. In a statement, Tiziana chairman and founder, Gabriele Cerrone, said of Graham: “His knowledge and experience at Regeneron in developing blockbuster monoclonal antibody drugs such as Dupixent will be invaluable in developing Foralumab and our anti-IL-6 drug, TZLS-501.” As well as a 10-year stint at Regeneron, Graham has held roles with drug developers Vertex, Trimeris and Glaxo Welcome and he was also an associate professor at John Hopkins University in the US.