GRI Bio Enters into Asset Purchase Agreement with Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. for the Sale of Legacy Asset, ADAIR

Aardvark to acquire global development and commercialization rights to ADAIR and all intellectual property outside of Europe and licensor rights for the EU

Aardvark to leverage ADAIR formulation technology for certain follow-on pipeline programs in development

GRI to receive modest upfront payment and potential to earn development and commercial milestones up to approximately $80 million

LA JOLLA, CA, Aug. 23, 2023 (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 Company has entered into an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aardvark”) will acquire certain assets and intellectual property of the Company that pertain to ADAIR (Abuse Deterrent Amphetamine Immediate Release). Aardvark intends to utilize the ADAIR formation technology for the development of certain follow-on pipeline programs.

ADAIR, a legacy asset from the merger with Vallon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Vallon”), is a proprietary abuse-deterrent formulation of immediate release dextroamphetamine for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) designed to deter attempts to crush and snort it or take it by other non-oral routes that can produce a greater “high.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Aardvark will assume responsibility for and endeavor to develop and commercialize the purchased assets. Exclusive license rights to develop and commercialize ADAIR in Europe and the UK were previously licensed to Medice Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH, a leader in the European ADHD market. GRI Bio will receive a modest up-front payment and the potential to earn milestone payments for achievements in development and commercialization from Aardvark up to approximately $80 million.

“This agreement represents a great opportunity for GRI Bio as it allows us to optimize our non-strategic asset that we acquired through our merger with Vallon, while allowing us to maintain our focus on advancing our pipeline of novel assets in development for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. We believe in the potential of ADAIR and are pleased to have it continue on in its development at Aardvark,” commented Marc Hertz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GRI Bio.