IGC Pharma Secures New U.S. Patent as Pharmaceutical Cannabinoids Gain Regulatory Momentum

Rhea-AI Summary

IGC Pharma (NYSE American: IGC) announced that the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 12,491,200 on December 19, 2025, covering a novel microdose-based cannabinoid treatment for stuttering and Tourette's Syndrome.

The patent protects ultra-low THC dosing, alone or with CBD or other agents, to modulate neural circuits tied to vocal disruptions and tics, and complements IGC's existing neurological pipeline including IGC-AD1 in the CALMA trial for agitation in Alzheimer's disease.

Positive

• USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 12,491,200 on Dec 19, 2025
• Patent covers microdose THC methods for stuttering and Tourette's
• Adds to IGC's cannabinoid IP estate alongside IGC-AD1 in CALMA trial
• Expands pipeline beyond Alzheimer's into vocal and motor disorder indications

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Quarterly revenue $191 thousand Quarter ended September 30, 2025 (10-Q)

Net loss $1.821 million Quarter ended September 30, 2025 (10-Q)

R&D expenses $1.588 million Quarter ended September 30, 2025 (10-Q)

Cash and equivalents $1.105 million As of September 30, 2025 (10-Q)

Working capital $490 thousand As of September 30, 2025 (10-Q)

Credit facility size $12 million Amended and extended facility (10-Q)

Asset sale consideration $2.7 million Vancouver facility assets sale (8-K, 2025-11-14)

Registered resale shares 978,235 shares Amended S-3/A resale registration

Market Reality Check

$0.2999 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,519,476 is 2.09x the 20-day average of 725,785, signaling elevated interest ahead of/around this patent news. high

Technical Price 0.3361 is trading below the 200-day MA at 0.35 and 32.58% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

IGC is up 2.31% while key biotech peers such as CASI (-2.11%), ESLA (-0.95%), KLTO (-3.31%), and LSB (-20.62%) are down, with only LTRN modestly higher at 1.25%. This points to a stock-specific move tied to the patent news rather than a sector-wide shift.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
2025-12-15	Policy positioning	Positive	-3.9%	Company positioned as beneficiary of potential Schedule III cannabinoid changes.
2025-12-10	Analyst coverage	Positive	+14.8%	Analyst report raised price target following Q2 results commentary.
2025-12-09	Trial enrollment	Positive	+2.5%	Reported 65% enrollment in Phase 2 CALMA agitation trial for IGC-AD1.
2025-12-02	Educational outreach	Positive	-2.9%	Announced publication of caregiver-focused Alzheimer’s book aligned with mission.
2025-11-25	AI platform update	Positive	-0.4%	Detailed progress on MINT-AD AI model for Alzheimer’s risk stratification.

Pattern Detected

Recent news and clinical updates have produced mixed reactions, with several positive announcements followed by negative or muted price moves, and only some events showing strong upside alignment.

Recent Company History

Over the last month, IGC has highlighted AI-enabled Alzheimer’s initiatives, clinical progress in the Phase 2 CALMA trial, and positioning around potential Schedule III reclassification. Notable items include a coverage report on Dec 10, 2025 with a raised target and a 65% enrollment milestone reported on Dec 9, 2025. Some positive narratives, such as federal cannabinoid policy momentum and educational outreach, saw negative price reactions, underscoring inconsistent trading responses to fundamentally upbeat news.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-12-03

An effective S-3/A resale registration dated 2025-12-03 covers up to 978,235 shares for existing holders. The company itself is not selling shares or receiving proceeds, but it is bearing registration expenses, so this setup enables secondary liquidity without direct primary dilution from this filing.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock dropped -10.7% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite a new patent would fit recent patterns where positive narratives sometimes preceded price declines, as seen after several upbeat Alzheimer’s and AI announcements. The shares previously traded below the 0.35 200-day MA and 32.58% under the 52-week high, suggesting a fragile setup. An effective resale registration for 978,235 shares may also weigh on sentiment, even though it involves existing holders and brings no cash to the company.

Key Terms

united states patent and trademark office regulatory

"the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially issued"

A U.S. government agency that reviews and issues patents for inventions and registers trademarks for brand names and logos, acting like an official office that grants property deeds for ideas and branding. Investors care because patents and trademarks can create legal barriers to competition, support higher pricing, enable licensing revenue, and affect a company’s long‑term value and legal risk—so decisions by this office can materially influence a firm’s prospects.

cbd medical

"ultra-low doses of THC, alone or in combination with CBD or other agents"

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound found in hemp and cannabis plants that does not produce the “high” associated with THC. Investors care because CBD is sold in a wide range of consumer products and medical treatments, so changes in regulation, clinical evidence, or consumer demand can quickly affect company sales, margins and legal risk — think of it as a product line whose value depends on shifting rules and public trust.

endocannabinoid system medical

"based on a microdose-based mechanism targeting the endocannabinoid system, which may"

A system of receptors, signaling molecules and enzymes in the body that helps regulate appetite, mood, pain, sleep, immune response and other basic functions — acting like an internal messaging and balance system. It matters to investors because drugs, medical treatments or consumer products that safely target this system can create new markets or change competitive dynamics; research results, clinical progress and regulatory rulings can therefore have a direct impact on a company’s commercial prospects and valuation.

phase 2 medical

"IGC-AD1, currently in the CALMA clinical trial for agitation in Alzheimer's disease"

Phase 2 is the mid-stage clinical trial where a new drug or treatment is tested in a larger group of patients to see if it works and to keep checking safety after initial human testing. Think of it as a field test that proves whether a product actually delivers its promised benefit. Investors watch Phase 2 closely because its results strongly influence a medicine’s chances of reaching the market, the size of its potential sales, and the company’s valuation.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

- New Patent Expands IGC Pharma's Pharmaceutical Cannabinoid Portfolio Beyond Alzheimer's Disease -

POTOMAC, MD / ACCESS Newswire / December 19, 2025 / IGC Pharma, Inc. (NYSE American:IGC) ("IGC" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially issued U.S. Patent No. 12,491,200, covering the Company's novel microdose-based cannabinoid treatment of stuttering (stammering) and Tourette's Syndrome.

The patent issuance follows the Notice of Allowance previously announced by the Company and now provides full intellectual property protection over a proprietary therapeutic approach that utilizes ultra-low doses of THC, alone or in combination with CBD or other agents, to modulate neural circuits involved in vocal disruptions, tics, and involuntary motor symptoms.

This patent builds upon IGC Pharma's expanding cannabinoid IP estate and represents a significant step forward for the Company's strategy to advance safe, targeted, next-generation neurological therapies under pharmaceutical dosing standards.

"We are very pleased to secure the formal issuance of this important patent, representing another meaningful step in strengthening IGC Pharma's diversified portfolio of neurological candidates," said Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC Pharma. "Microdosing represents an innovative frontier in cannabinoid medicine, offering the potential for therapeutic benefits with minimal psychoactive effects. With U.S. Patent 12,491,200 now issued, our expanding pipeline now includes multiple synthetic and small-molecule assets alongside targeted microdose formulations. We have strengthened our leadership position in cannabinoid-based neurological therapeutics and expanded our pipeline opportunities well beyond Alzheimer's.

The newly issued patent protects methods directed at reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms associated with stuttering and Tourette's Syndrome, two conditions with limited treatment options and significant unmet medical needs.

The invention is based on a microdose-based mechanism targeting the endocannabinoid system, which may help stabilize neural activity, reduce hyperexcitability, and improve vocal and motor control all while aiming for a favorable safety profile compared to traditional high-dose pharmacotherapies.

The patent complements IGC-Pharma's most advanced asset, IGC-AD1, currently in the CALMA clinical trial for agitation in Alzheimer's disease, reinforcing the Company's broader platform focused on low-dose, neurologically active compounds developed under pharmaceutical controls.

About IGC Pharma (dba IGC):

IGC Pharma (NYSE American:IGC) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging AI to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer's and metabolic disorders. Our lead asset, IGC-AD1, is a cannabinoid-based therapy currently in a Phase 2 trial (CALMA) for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia. Our pipeline includes TGR-63, targeting amyloid plaques, and early-stage programs focused on neurodegeneration, tau proteins, and metabolic dysfunctions. We integrate AI to accelerate drug discovery, optimize clinical trials, and enhance patient targeting. With a complete patent portfolio and a commitment to innovation, IGC Pharma is advancing breakthrough therapies.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IGC Pharma's expectations and are subject to several risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IGC Pharma's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, the Company's failure or inability to commercialize one or more of the Company's products or technologies, including the products or formulations described in this release, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for the products or formulations, where required, or government regulations affecting AI or the AI algorithms not working as intended or producing accurate predictions; general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; the FDA's general position regarding cannabis- and hemp-based products; and other factors, many of which are discussed in IGC Pharma's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. IGC incorporates by reference its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2025, as if fully incorporated and restated herein. Considering these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this release will occur. IGC Pharma, Inc. assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

Contact Information:

Rosalyn Christian / John Nesbett
IMS Investor Relations
igc@imsinvestorrelations.com
(203) 972-9200

SOURCE: IGC Pharma, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What did IGC (IGC) receive from the USPTO on December 19, 2025?

IGC received issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,491,200 covering microdose-based cannabinoid treatments for stuttering and Tourette's Syndrome.

How does U.S. Patent 12,491,200 change IGC Pharma's pipeline?

The patent formally expands IGC's cannabinoid IP and adds targeted microdose formulations to its neurological pipeline beyond Alzheimer's.

Which conditions does the new IGC patent cover for microdose cannabinoid therapy?

The patent covers methods directed at reducing frequency and severity of symptoms associated with stuttering (stammering) and Tourette's Syndrome.

Does the issued patent relate to IGC's clinical-stage asset IGC-AD1?

Yes. The patent complements IGC's broader platform and is noted alongside IGC-AD1, currently in the CALMA clinical trial for agitation in Alzheimer's disease.

What mechanism does IGC's patent describe for treating stuttering and Tourette's?

It describes an ultra-low dose THC-based approach, alone or with CBD or other agents, targeting the endocannabinoid system to modulate neural circuits tied to vocal and motor control.

Will the new IGC patent likely affect investment or partnership interest?

The patent strengthens IGC's intellectual property position for cannabinoid neurological therapies, which may support future development or licensing discussions.