LA JOLLA, Calif., March  26, 2024  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced it has received a Notice of Allowance from the Japan Patent Office for a pending patent application which covers MN-166 (ibudilast) for the treatment of macular injury associated with progressive multiple sclerosis.

Once issued, this patent is expected to expire no earlier than October 2039.  The allowed claims cover the use of MN-166 (ibudilast) for treating macular injury associated with progressive multiple sclerosis and for decreasing macular volume loss associated with progressive multiple sclerosis. The allowed claims specifically cover both primary progressive multiple sclerosis and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The allowed claims cover oral administration including tablets, capsules, granules, microbead dosage forms, and liquid dosage forms. The allowed claims cover a wide range of doses of MN-166 (ibudilast), a range of different dosing frequencies, and a range of different treatment periods.

Kazuko Matsuda, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "We are very pleased to receive a notice of this new patent allowance in Japan and we believe it could increase the potential value of MN-166.   The potential of MN-166 in ophthalmic neurodegenerative diseases has been demonstrated previously by positive data from a glaucoma animal model study and a retinal damage animal model study. Previously, we reported positive Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) results from the SPRINT-MS Phase 2b trial of MN-166 in progressive multiple sclerosis. All OCT measures showed less loss of retinal tissue for MN-166 compared to placebo. Similar patents have been granted in the U.S., Europe, and China."

About MN-166 (ibudilast)

MN-166 (ibudilast) is a small molecule compound that inhibits phosphodiesterase type-4 (PDE4) and inflammatory cytokines, including macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). It is in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), progressive MS (multiple sclerosis), and DCM (degenerative cervical myelopathy); and is also in development for glioblastoma, Long COVID, CIPN (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy), and substance use disorder. In addition, MN-166 (ibudilast) was evaluated in patients that are at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).