MediciNova Receives a Notice of Allowance for a New Patent Covering the Combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and Riluzole for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Canada

LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 10, 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 that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for a pending patent application which covers the combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Once issued, the patent maturing from this allowed patent application is expected to expire no earlier than November 2035. The allowed claims cover the use of the combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole for treating a patient diagnosed with ALS when administered in a tablet, a capsule, or a liquid dosage form. The allowed claims specifically cover the use of the combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole for slowing progression of disease in a patient diagnosed with ALS when administered in a tablet, a capsule, or a liquid dosage form. The allowed claims cover a wide range of doses and a range of dosing regimens for both MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole.

Kazuko Matsuda, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "We are very pleased to receive notice that this new patent will be granted. Previously, similar patents were granted in the U.S., Japan, and Europe based on data from our first clinical trial in ALS patients. We previously announced results of a responder analysis which found that the proportion of responders, defined as stable or improved in the ALS functional score, muscle test and subjective ALSAQ-5 quality of life assessment, was higher in the MN-166 plus riluzole-treated group compared to the riluzole-only group. We believe this new patent could substantially increase the potential value of MN-166.  We are currently conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial with ALS patients in the U.S. and Canada.  The U.S. FDA granted both orphan-drug designation and fast-track designation to MN-166 for the treatment of ALS, and the European Commission granted Orphan Medicinal Product Designation to MN-166 for the treatment of ALS."