Issued Claims Protect Distinct Molecular Designs with Broad Therapeutic Potential Across Inflammatory, Fibrotic, and Autoimmune Diseases

LA JOLLA, CA, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRI Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRI) ("GRI Bio" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company advancing an innovative pipeline of immune cell modulators for the treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 12,528,775, providing robust new intellectual property protection for novel compound compositions central to the Company's platform of immunomodulators.

The newly issued patent includes composition-of-matter claims covering a distinct class of proprietary compounds defined by linked molecular structures that form pyrrolidine, piperidine, or azepane ring systems. These specific molecular configurations represent a key structural advancement and are separate and distinct from patents previously issued to the Company, further strengthening the durability of GRI Bio's intellectual property estate.

"This patent reflects our disciplined IP strategy and scientific depth," said Marc Hertz, Chief Executive Officer of GRI Bio. "We have now secured independent protection for a novel and highly valuable subset of our chemistry platform."

The newly issued patent supports GRI Bio's broader platform focused on modulating Natural Killer T (NKT) cell biology and complements the Company's ongoing development of immune cell–targeted therapies for inflammatory, fibrotic, and autoimmune diseases.

GRI Bio remains focused on advancing its lead program, GRI-0621, while leveraging its growing chemistry platform and library of over 500 proprietary compounds to support future pipeline expansion and potential strategic partnerships.

About GRI Bio, Inc.

GRI Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on fundamentally changing the way inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases are treated. GRI Bio's therapies are designed to target the activity of Natural Killer T ("NKT") cells, which are key regulators earlier in the inflammatory cascade, to interrupt disease progression and restore the immune system to homeostasis. NKT cells are innate-like T cells that share properties of both NK and T cells and are a functional link between the innate and adaptive immune responses. Type I invariant NKT ("iNKT") cells play a critical role in propagating the injury, inflammatory response, and fibrosis observed in inflammatory and fibrotic indications. GRI Bio's lead program, GRI-0621, is an RARβγ agonist shown to inhibit the activity of key immune cells, like iNKT cell activity, and is being developed as a novel oral therapeutic for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious disease with significant unmet need. The Company is also developing a pipeline of novel type 2 diverse NKT ("dNKT") agonists for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Additionally, with a library of over 500 proprietary compounds, GRI Bio has the ability to fuel a growing pipeline.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's expectations with respect to development and commercialization of the Company's product candidates, the timing of initiation or completion of clinical trials and availability of resulting data, the potential benefits and impact of the Company's clinical trials and product candidates and any implication that the data or results observed in preclinical trials or earlier studies, topline or interim data or trials will be indicative of results of later studies or clinical trials or final data, the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding potential shareholder value and future financial performance, the Company's beliefs and estimates about its cash and available resources and its ability to fund its planned operations through any particular date, the Company's beliefs about the timing and outcome of regulatory approvals and potential regulatory approval pathways, the Company's expected milestones future milestones, and the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding the sufficiency of its existing cash and cash equivalents to fund its planned operations, its ability to raise additional funds, which may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all, and capital expenditure requirements. Actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements expressed by the Company in this press release and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including, without limitation: (1) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company's common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market and to comply with applicable listing requirements; (2) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (3) the inability of the Company to raise financing in the future; (4) the success, cost and timing of the Company's product development activities; (5) the inability of the Company to obtain and maintain regulatory clearance or approval for its respective products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any cleared or approved product; (6) the inability of the Company to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; (7) the inability of the Company to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the development of products and services that the Company is currently developing; (8) the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company's products and services, and their respective ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; (9) the failure to achieve any milestones or receive any milestone payments under any agreements; (10) inaccuracy in the Company's estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for and the ability to obtain additional financing; (11) the Company's ability to protect and enforce its intellectual property portfolio, including any newly issued patents and its ability to obtain any expected patent term extensions, adjustments, exclusivities or disclaimers; and (12) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025 and subsequently filed reports. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Investor Contact:

JTC Team, LLC

Jenene Thomas

(908) 824-0775

GRI@jtcir.com

GRI Bio Secures New U.S. Composition of Matter Patent Covering Novel Compound Structures