SAN DIEGO, CA (March 28, 2025) – Hillhurst Bio, a clinical-stage company leveraging its proprietary GLASS™ technology to deliver inhaled therapeutic agents orally, announced today that it has been awarded a $1.9 million Phase 2 SBIR grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to support further preclinical work for its diabetic retinopathy program. This latest funding builds upon the success of Hillhurst Bio’s Phase 1 STTR grant, which demonstrated promising initial results in the use of its orally delivered low dose carbon monoxide drug HBI-002 in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. With this grant, the company aims to accelerate preclinical research and optimize its therapeutic approach before moving into clinical trials.

“We are excited to receive this continued support, which will allow us to further investigate the potential of our GLASS™ technology,” said Andrew Gomperts, President and CEO of Hillhurst Bio. “This funding brings us one step closer to meeting this important medical  need.”

Hillhurst Bio remains committed to pioneering advancements in carbon monoxide-based therapies for a range of medical conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, sickle cell disease and Parkinson’s disease. The company looks forward to providing further updates as it progresses toward the clinic.

The content in this release is the sole responsibility of Hillhurst and does not necessarily represent the official views or imply endorsement of the National Institutes of Health.

About Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a neurovascular complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults and the elderly, affecting approximately 4.2 million diabetes patients in the U.S. There is an urgent need for the development of additional approaches to prevent and treat diabetic retinopathy, as current therapeutic interventions have limited efficacy and substantial drawbacks.

About HBI-002
Hillhurst’s lead product, HBI-002, developed with the GLASS™ platform, enables oral liquid delivery of low doses of the medical gas carbon monoxide. This delivery method may address key medical issues of diabetic retinopathy, sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive crisis, and Parkinson’s disease. A Phase 1 clinical study with HBI-002 in healthy subjects under IND has been successfully completed.

About Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals
Hillhurst is a clinical-stage company focused on its proprietary GLASS™ platform, which enables therapeutic agents to be delivered orally that , up until now, have been limited by inhaled delivery. The company has developed a unique pipeline of novel liquid therapeutic candidates intended to treat patients with sickle cell disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetic retinopathy, and acute pain.

To learn more about Hillhurst please visit www.hillhurstbio.com

CONTACT: Andrew Gomperts, President and CEO, hillhurstpress@hillhurstbio.com