MediciNova Receives a New Patent Covering MN-001 for the Treatment of Scleroderma and Systemic Sclerosis in Europe

LA JOLLA, Calif., Aug. 15, 2023 (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 Decision to Grant from the European Patent Office for a new patent which covers MN-001 (tipelukast) for the treatment of scleroderma and/or systemic sclerosis.

This patent is expected to expire no earlier than June 2035. The allowed claims cover the use of MN-001 (tipelukast) for inhibiting or treating scleroderma and/or systemic sclerosis. The allowed claims cover oral administration, including tablets and capsules, as well as liquid dosage forms. The allowed claims cover a wide range of doses and a range of different dosing frequencies.

Kazuko Matsuda, M.D. Ph.D., MPH., Chief Medical Officer, MediciNova, Inc., commented, “This new patent is based on positive results from a systemic sclerosis animal model study conducted recently. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office granted a similar patent earlier this year. We are very pleased to receive notice of this new patent which covers Europe, and we believe it could increase the potential value of MN-001.”

About MN-001 (tipelukast)

MN-001 (tipelukast) is a novel, orally administered, small molecule compound with multiple mechanisms of action which has been in clinical development for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, among others, due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis effects. Based on the finding that MN-001 (tipelukast) reduces triglycerides (TG) in the blood from our previous clinical trials, we conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and NASH or NAFLD. Based on the findings from the in-vitro mechanistic study of MN-001 (tipelukast), a subgroup analysis of the Phase 2 clinical trial showed a stronger improvement in lipid profile in the NASH/NAFLD patients with a history of diabetes. Therefore, a new Phase 2 clinical trial was initiated to investigate the effect of MN-001 (tipelukast) in NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia.