GRI Bio (NASDAQ: GRI) Highlights Positive Preclinical Data for IPF and SLE Programs

GRI Bio, Inc., a biotechnology firm based in La Jolla, CA, has shared updates on its innovative programs targeting inflammatory, fibrotic, and autoimmune diseases. The company is advancing a pipeline of Natural Killer T (NKT) cell modulators, with significant data presented at the 2024 American Thoracic Society International Conference and the 14th International Congress on Autoimmunity.

In a recent Virtual Investor segment titled “What This Means,” the company's leadership, including CEO Marc Hertz, PhD, Chief Medical Officer Albert Agro, PhD, and Chief Scientific Officer Vipin Kumar Chaturvedi, PhD, discussed promising preclinical data. The focus was on the implications for GRI Bio’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) program, GRI-0621, along with its systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development programs, GRI-0803 and GRI-0124. The company reaffirmed 2024 as a pivotal year for data and outlined several upcoming milestones.

For GRI-0621, the company plans to report interim data from a Phase 2a biomarker study in the third quarter of 2024, with topline results expected in the fourth quarter.

Regarding GRI-0803, key milestones include completing IND-enabling studies by the third quarter of 2024, filing an IND, and launching a Phase 1a/b trial. Additionally, GRI Bio anticipates reporting topline results from a Phase 1a single ascending dose (SAD) study and a Phase 1b multiple ascending dose (MAD) study by the fourth quarter of 2024.

GRI Bio is committed to transforming the treatment landscape for inflammatory, fibrotic, and autoimmune diseases. Its therapies aim to modulate the activity of NKT cells, which are crucial in early inflammatory responses. By targeting these cells, GRI Bio hopes to interrupt disease progression and restore immune system balance. NKT cells exhibit properties of both NK and T cells, linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Specifically, type 1 invariant (iNKT) cells are pivotal in driving inflammation and fibrosis in certain conditions.

The company’s lead program, GRI-0621, is an oral therapeutic designed to inhibit iNKT cell activity, targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition with a substantial unmet need. In addition, GRI Bio is developing a range of novel type 2 NKT agonists for treating systemic lupus erythematosus. With a library of over 500 proprietary compounds, the company is well-positioned to expand its pipeline and address various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

GRI Bio's Virtual Investor segment provides detailed insights into its ongoing research and development efforts. The video is available for viewing on demand, along with other segments from the "What This Means" series, accessible at www.virtualinvestorco.com.

In summary, GRI Bio is making significant strides in developing therapies for challenging inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. With crucial milestones on the horizon for 2024, the company continues to advance its innovative pipeline, aiming to make a meaningful impact on patient care.