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MediciNova Receives Notice of Allowance for New Patent Covering MN-166 (ibudilast) for the Treatment of ALS
LA JOLLA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2021 (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., Dec. 13, 2021 (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 it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark 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 a method of treating a patient diagnosed with ALS with the combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole. The allowed claims cover a wide range of dosage strengths of MN-166 (ibudilast) and riluzole and various formulations which include tablets, capsules, and liquids. 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. Once this new patent is granted, we will have three different U.S. patents that cover MN-166 for the treatment of ALS. We believe it could substantially increase the potential value of MN-166 as it further strengthens our patent portfolio for ALS.” About ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The nerves lose the ability to trigger specific muscles, which causes the muscles to become weak. As a result, ALS affects voluntary movement and patients in the later stages of the disease may become completely paralyzed. Life expectancy of an ALS patient is usually 2-5 years. According to the ALS Association, there are approximately 16,000 ALS patients in the U.S. and approximately 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. About MN-166 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 for glioblastoma, CIPN (c...