GRI Bio Announced Cytometry Data From Phase 2a GRI-0621-IPF-02 Clinical Trial Evaluating GRI-0621 For Treatment Of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

New immune profiling data confirms disease-modifying mechanism, reinforces earlier signals of fibrosis resolution, lung repair, and improved lung function

LA JOLLA, CA, Jan. 08, 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 positive flow cytometry data from the Phase 2a GRI-0621-IPF-02 clinical trial evaluating GRI-0621 for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ("IPF"). Immune cell samples from lung bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) demonstrated iNKT inhibition and a clear immunomodulatory shift towards an anti-fibrotic profile, producing more anti-fibrotic interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and less pro-fibrotic interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).

Chronically activated iNKT cells downregulate the expression of their T cell receptor (TCR). GRI-0621-treated subjects demonstrated increased TCR expression after 12 weeks of treatment compared with baseline or placebo-treated subjects receiving standard of care. T cell subsets demonstrated increased type I-associated cytokines (IFN-γ) and reduced type 2 (IL-4 and IL-13) and type 3-associated cytokines (IL-17A and IL-22) in both BAL and PBMC samples. Similarly, TGF-β was observed to be reduced after 12 weeks of GRI-0621 treatment in T cell subsets (e.g. Treg and Treg-like), B cells, monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils in BAL and PBMC samples compared to baseline or placebo-treated subjects receiving standard of care.