California K-12 Schools Now Eligible for neffyinSchools Program, Offering Needle-Free Epinephrine at No Cost for Emergency Use

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and their caregivers to better protect patients from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis, announced today that California, the state where ARS Pharma is headquartered, is now eligible for itsneffyinSchools program.

Type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can happen quickly and be caused by foods, insects, medication, exercise, or other unknown causes and can only be treated with epinephrine. It is estimated that one-quarter of life-threatening food allergy reactions in schools occur in students and staff without a prior diagnosis.¹ Studies also show that food allergy affects approximately 1 in 13 school-aged U.S. children.²

“One year ago, we envisioned a nationwide program that would give school nurses and staff the confidence to respond quickly to a severe allergic emergency, and we’re thrilled that California schools are now eligible to participate in this program,” said Richard Lowenthal, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of ARS Pharma. “Withneffy’s needle-free design, long shelf life and stability at temperature excursions of up to 122°F, schools have an option that is compact, easy to use, easily disposable and is ready when needed. We look forward to adding more school communities in the future.”

Since its launch in January 2025, theneffyinSchools program has grown to include more than 8,000 participating schools across the country. With California now eligible, the program spans 24 states and aims to reach more states as legislation for undesignated use in schools evolves alongside innovation.neffyis considered the first significant innovation in epinephrine delivery for allergic reactions in over 35 years.

“California has taken a major step in prioritizing access to all forms of epinephrine, helping to protect children and empowering school nurses across the state when seconds matter,” said Terri Hinkley, EdD, MBA, BScN, RN, CAE, CEO of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). “Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can happen quickly. I believe this type of forward-thinking is exactly what schools need to ensure our communities are safer.”

TheneffyinSchools program is open to public and private K-12 schools throughout the U.S. Eligible schools can request product through anonline applicationand receive two cartons (four single use doses) ofneffy®(epinephrine nasal spray) 1 mg and 2 mg at no cost, for emergency use. To date, ARS Pharma has donated nearly 45,000 doses ofneffy.Participating schools also can receive replacement product upon use or expiration.

TheneffyinSchools program is currently offered in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. All K-12 schools are encouraged to apply.

For more information, including details about patient advocacy groups and resources for schools, visitwww.neffy.com/community-programs.

AboutneffyinSchoolsARS Pharma is committed to working with our communities to provide essential epinephrine in schools. Eligible public and private K-12 schools in the U.S. (excluding territories) will be able to receive two cartons (four single use doses) ofneffy2 mg for adults and children who weigh ≥30 kg (66 lbs.), as well asneffy1 mg for children who weigh between 15 to < 30kg (33 < 66 lbs.) in emergency situations. TheneffyinSchools program is only for undesignated use, and children with prescriptions for epinephrine from their healthcare provider must continue to supply medication to their school in accordance with school guidelines. Schools must review applicable state legislation to ensureneffymeets the requirements of local epinephrine stocking and administration laws for undesignated use.

neffyis a nasal spray used for emergency treatment of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, in adults and children aged 4 years and older who weigh 33 lbs. or greater.

INDICATION

neffyis indicated for emergency treatment of type I allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adult and pediatric patients aged 4 years and older who weigh 33 lbs. or greater.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

neffycontains epinephrine, a medicine used to treat allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, can happen in minutes, and can be caused by stinging and biting insects, allergy injections, foods, medicines, exercise, or other unknown causes. Always carry twoneffynasal sprays with you because you may not know when anaphylaxis may happen and because you may need a second dose ofneffyif symptoms continue or come back. Eachneffycontains a single dose of epinephrine.neffyis for use in the nose only.

Useneffyright away, as soon as you notice symptoms of an allergic reaction. If symptoms continue or get worse after the first dose ofneffy, a second dose is needed. If needed, administer a second dose using a newneffyin the same nostril starting 5 minutes after the first dose. Get emergency medical help for further treatment of the allergic emergency (anaphylaxis), if needed after usingneffy.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have underlying structural or anatomical nasal conditions, about all the medicines you take, and about all your medical conditions, especially if you have heart problems, kidney problems, low potassium in your blood, Parkinson’s disease, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider if you take or use other nasal sprays or water pills (diuretics) or if you take medicines to treat depression, abnormal heart beats, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, thyroid disease, medicines used in labor, and medicines to treat allergies.neffyand other medications may affect each other, causing side effects.neffymay affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect howneffyworks.

neffymay cause serious side effects. If you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse, or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you useneffy.

Common side effects ofneffyinclude: nasal discomfort, headache, throat irritation, chest and nasal congestion, feeling overly excited, nervous or anxious, nose bleed, nose pain, sneezing, runny nose, dry nose or throat, tingling sensation, including in the nose, feeling tired, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

These are not all of the possible side effects ofneffy. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects, contact ARS Pharmaceuticals Operations, Inc. at1-877-MY-NEFFY (877-696-3339)or the FDA at1-800-FDA-1088orwww.fda.gov/medwatch.

About Type I Allergic Reactions Including AnaphylaxisType I allergic reactions are serious and potentially life-threatening events that can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen and require immediate treatment with epinephrine, the only FDA-approved medication for these reactions. While epinephrine auto-injectors have been shown to be highly effective, there are well published limitations that result in many patients and caregivers delaying or not administering treatment in an emergency situation. These limitations include fear of the needle, lack of portability, needle-related safety concerns, lack of reliability, and complexity of the devices. There are approximately 40 million people in the United States who experience Type I allergic reactions. Of this group, over the last three years, approximately 20 million people have been diagnosed and treated for severe Type I allergic reactions that may lead to anaphylaxis, but (in 2023, for example) only 3.2 million filled their active epinephrine auto-injector prescription, and of those, only half consistently carry their prescribed auto-injector. Even if patients or caregivers carry an auto-injector, more than half either delay or do not administer the device when needed in an emergency.

About ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.ARS Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and their caregivers to better protect patients from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis. The Company is commercializingneffy®(trade nameEURneffy®in the EU and 优敏速®in China), an epinephrine nasal spray indicated in the U.S. for emergency treatment of Type I allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adult patients and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older who weigh 33 lbs. or greater, and in the EU for emergency treatment of allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) due to insect stings or bites, foods, medicinal products, and other allergens as well as idiopathic or exercise induced anaphylaxis in adults and children who weigh 30 kg or greater. For more information, visitwww.ars-pharma.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release that are not purely historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to: the patient benefits and effectiveness ofneffy, including its needle-free, compact, portable and easy to use design, temperature stability, and extended shelf life; evaluations, judgments and expectations regarding theneffyinSchools program and its expansion; and other statements that are not historical fact. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “expect,” “if,” “may,” “on track to/for,” “potential,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon ARS Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect.

Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: potential safety and other complications fromneffy; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval forneffyin its currently approved indications; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and commercializingneffy; the scope, progress and expansion of developing our intranasal epinephrine technology; clinical trial results; the potential for governments and payors to delay, limit or deny coverage forneffy; the size and growth of the market forneffyand the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof vis-à-vis intramuscular injectable products; ARS Pharma’s’ ability to protect its intellectual property position; and the impact of government laws, regulations and policies. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption “Risk Factors” in ARS Pharma’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on November 10, 2025. This document can also be accessed on ARS Pharma’s website at www.ars-pharma.com by clicking on the link “Financials & Filings” under the “Investors & Media” tab.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. ARS Pharma assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. For more information, visitwww.ars-pharma.com, and follow us onLinkedInandX.