MediciNova Receives a Notice of Intention to Grant for a New Patent Covering MN-166 (ibudilast) for the Treatment of Macular Injury in Europe

LA JOLLA, Calif., Aug. 16, 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 Notice of Intention to Grant from the European 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, the patent maturing from this allowed patent application is expected to expire no earlier than October 2039.  The allowed claims cover the use of MN-166 (ibudilast) in a method of treating an ophthalmic disease/disorder or injury associated with a neurodegenerative disease/disorder, wherein the ophthalmic disease/disorder or injury is macular injury and wherein the neurodegenerative disease/disorder is progressive multiple sclerosis. The allowed claims cover the use of MN-166 (ibudilast) wherein the method is for decreasing macular volume loss associated with progressive multiple sclerosis including 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) and a range of different dosing frequencies.

Kazuko Matsuda, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "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. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office previously granted a similar patent. 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-166.”