Graft Polymer (UK) Plc announced the filing of two new provisional utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These provisional patent applications pertain to the treatment of substance use disorders ("SUDs") and mental health disorders using depot drug delivery systems ("DDDS"). Provisional patent applications: SUDs: The first provisional patent application, titled "Compositions and Methods for Treating Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) Using Depot Drug Delivery Systems (DDDS)", addresses the use of DDDS to reduce side effects and enhance effectiveness of therapeutics used to treat SUDs.

Many such therapeutics require frequent dosing via traditional routes of administration, and controlling and extending drug release, such as using biopolymer based depot delivery systems, can potentially increase patient compliance and potentially improve outcomes. Mental health disorders: The second provisional patent application, titled "Compositions and Methods for Treating Mental Health Disorders (MHDS) Using Depot Drug DeliverySystems (DDDS)", also focuses on the use of DDDS to reduce side effects and enhance effectiveness of therapeutics, in particular those used in treating mental health disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder ("GAD"), Major Depressive Disorder ("MDD") and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD"). Similar to treatments for SUDs, current formulations of these therapeutics often are limited in their effectiveness and have increased side effects as a result of gastric and hepatic degradation of the API, drawbacks which are eliminated by the use of biopolymer based depot delivery systems, such as for controlled subcutaneous release.

Strategic significance: These patent applications aim to leverage the Company's biopolymer expertise to address significant unmet medical needs in addiction and mental health therapy, particularly in the US market. They represents continued progress in developing the Company's intellectual property ("IP") portfolio. They also signify further progress in the Company's strategic focus on the healthcare industry, following the disposal of its industrial plastic manufacturing unit, Graft Polymer D.O.O. (which was announced on 3 May 2024), and the successful completion of the Company's recent fundraise.