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11 December 2024

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc
(the "Company")

Promising results in pre-clinical study in aminoindane new chemical entity programme

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc (LON: GPL) announces promising initial results from a pre-clinical study of AW21003, a co-lead compound in the aminoindane new chemical entity ("NCE") programme being co-developed with Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (CSE: AWKN, OTCQB: AWKNF) ("Awakn").

The study was conducted by the University of Nottingham under a research agreement with Awakn announced on 15 October 2024. This work forms part of the collaborative agreement between the Company and Awakn, initially announced on 18 July 2024.

The programme focuses on developing novel therapeutic options for trauma-related mental health disorders, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD"). PTSD affected approximately 13 million adults in the U.S. in 2020, with the Company estimating a current affected population of 20 million across the U.S., UK and key EU markets.

Aminoindanes, the focus of this programme, are a class of compounds being explored for their potential to enhance pro-social behaviour with a potentially improved safety profile compared to existing options under investigation for PTSD. Pro-social behaviour, which includes fostering trust, empathy, and social bonding, is increasingly recognised as a key therapeutic target for the treatment of PTSD. Enhancing such behaviours may help individuals overcome isolation, rebuild relationships, and engage more effectively in therapy.

Study Highlights:

·      Social Interaction and Information Transfer: AW21003 enhanced observer animals' ability to learn and retain information, as evidenced by increased consumption of a demonstrated (correct) flavoured diet versus a novel (incorrect) one.

·      Behavioural Safety Indicators: Unlike MDMA, a comparative test standard known to induce stereotyped behaviours (e.g., flat body posture and lateral head weaving), AW21003-treated animals exhibited no such behaviours, suggesting a favourable safety profile.

·      Unique Observations: Test-standard animals preferred the correct diet, indicating baseline pro-social tendencies in the experimental design. AW21003-treated animals displayed complex preferences requiring further investigation.

The study was led by Dr. Madeline King, Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham.

Next Steps

Building on these promising results, the Company and Awakn will expand the aminoindane NCE programme. Key next steps include:

·      Synthesising additional aminoindane compounds in collaboration with Concept Life Sciences.

·      Screening these compounds for serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline release in partnership with Eurofins Discovery.

·      Conducting further pre-clinical behavioural studies with the University of Nottingham to validate and explore the therapeutic potential of aminoindanes.

Professor David Nutt, Senior Scientific Advisor to Graft Polymer (UK) Plc, commented: "These findings represent an important milestone for our aminoindane programme. Developing compounds that combine therapeutic efficacy with improved safety has transformative potential for treating PTSD and other trauma-related conditions."

Anthony Tennyson, CEO of Graft Polymer (UK) Plc, added: "We are greatly encouraged by these initial results in our aminoindane NCE programme. AW21003's ability to enhance pro-social behaviours while demonstrating a favourable safety profile highlights its potential to address critical unmet needs in PTSD treatment. Through continued collaboration with Awakn and our academic and industry partners, we remain dedicated to creating innovative therapies that significantly improve the lives of individuals living with trauma-related mental health disorders."

Enquiries:

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc
Anthony Tennyson, CEO and Executive Director. anthonytennyson@graftpolymer.co.uk

Allenby Capital (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3328 5656

Nick Naylor / Liz Kirchner (Corporate Finance) | Guy McDougall (Sales)

About Graft Polymer (UK) Plc

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc is an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing intellectual property relating to the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, and the co-development of therapeutics for mental health disorders.  Our mission is to improve outcomes for individuals suffering from these conditions, with an initial focus on trauma-related mental health disorders, such as PTSD, which affected approximately 13 million adults in the U.S. in 2020, with the Company estimating a current affected population of 20 million across the US, UK and key EU markets.

For more information, please visit www.graftpolymer.co.uk.

About Awakn Life Sciences Corp

Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (CSE:AWKN, OTCQB:AWKNF) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics targeting substance use and mental health disorders. Awakn has a near-term focus on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a condition affecting approximately 29 million adults in the US and approximately 40 million in the US and key European for which the current standard of care is inadequate. Our goal is to provide breakthrough therapeutics to addiction sufferers in desperate need and our strategy is focused on commercialising our R&D pipeline across multiple channels.

For more information, please see www.awaknlifesciences.com | LinkedIn | X (formerly Twitter)