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MediciNova Announces MN-166 (ibudilast) Identified as Potential Beneficial Pharmacotherapy for Treatment of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy in Global Spine Journal
LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the
About this update from Medicinova, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the JASDAQ Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced that MN-166 (ibudilast) was discussed as a potential beneficial pharmacological agent for the treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) in Global Spine Journal. The publication entitled “Developing Novel Therapies for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 7]: Opportunities from Restorative Neurobiology” and co-authored by MediciNova’s collaborator, Dr. Mark Kotter, Professor, Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues, discussed contemporary therapies that may hold therapeutic value in three broad categories of neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and neuromodulation. Among those reviewed, the authors discuss the attributes of MN-166 (ibudilast) that support its use in DCM. The combination of anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative properties of MN-166 (ibudilast) is the basis for RECEDE-Myelopathy, a Phase 3, double-blind, randomized controlled trial assessing its efficacy as an adjuvant treatment to decompressive surgery for DCM on mJOA (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association) score and neck pain. Key take-aways in the publication include: Chronic spinal cord compression due to DCM leads to ischaemia, neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neuronal loss.People with DCM often develop and then suffer from lifelong disability, with less than 5% making a full recovery despite surgical decompression.An increase in activated microglia and macrophages has been observed at the site of chronic spinal cord compression and is a source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and can lead to further cell death by necrosis and apoptosis.MN-166 (ibudilast) has been shown to exhibit central anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neurotrophic/neuroregenerative effects by inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE4 and PDE10) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).This combination of effects, which leads to attenuation of glial cell activation and enhancement of neurotrophic/neuroregenerative factors, makes a compelling case to assess MN-166 (ibudilast) for the treatment of DCM.MN-166 (ibudilast...