GRI Bio Announces Korea Patent Granted for Proprietary Natural Killer T (NKT) Cell Modulators
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Company is strategically building a global patent estate in key territories for a growing pipeline targeting potentially high-value indications in need of innovation
LA JOLLA, CA, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRI Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRI) (“GRI Bio” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company advancing an innovative pipeline of Natural Killer T (NKT) cell modulators for the treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases, today announced that the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has granted Patent No. 10-2665487 titled, "Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Conditions."
The granted patent covers claims including compositions and methods for modulating type 2 and/or type 1 invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory conditions. More specifically, the patent covers the prevention and treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune conditions through the administration of a Retinoic Acid Receptor (RAR) agonist that inhibits iNKT cells in a subject.
“We wholeheartedly believe in our highly differentiated approach to the prevention and treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases. We are pleased to now have this Korea patent granted and added to our intellectual property portfolio covering our innovative pipeline of NKT cell modulators. Our primary focus is on advancing our clinical development programs and look forward to announcing interim data from our lead program GRI-0621 for our Phase 2a biomarker study in the third quarter of this year,” Marc Hertz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GRI Bio.
GRI Bio is currently advancing its lead program GRI-0621, a small molecule RAR-β? dual agonist candidate that inhibits the activity of human iNKT cells, in a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled, parallel-design, 2-arm study for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a rare chronic progressive pulmonary disease with abnormal scarring of the lung blocking the movement of oxygen into the bloodstream. Topline results from this study are expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For more information about the Company’s innovative pipeline of NKT cell regulators for the treatment of inflammatory, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases, visit gribio.com.
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 inhibitor of 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 NKT 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.