MediciNova's MN-166 in COMBAT-ALS Trial Accepted for Poster at 35th ALS/MND Symposium

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company listed on both the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), has announced the selection of an abstract for a poster presentation at the upcoming 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND. This event will take place from December 6-8, 2024, in Montreal, Canada. The abstract focuses on the clinical trial of MN-166 (ibudilast) for treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), as part of the COMBAT-ALS study. The poster will be presented by the lead Principal Investigator of the trial, Dr. Björn Oskarsson, who is an Associate Professor of Neurology and the Director of ALS Center of Excellence in Jacksonville, Florida.

The poster presentation, identified as Paper Number 302 and accepted for display, carries the title: "COMBAT-ALS Phase 2b/3 Trial of MN-166 (Ibudilast) in ALS: Trial Update and Interim Analysis Results." It falls under the theme of Clinical Trial and Trial Design.

MN-166 (ibudilast) is a small molecule inhibitor targeting phosphodiesterase type-4 (PDE4) and various inflammatory cytokines, including macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). This drug is in advanced stages of clinical development for several neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), and degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Furthermore, it is being explored for other conditions like glioblastoma, Long COVID, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and substance use disorder. MN-166 has also been tested in patients at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

MediciNova, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical enterprise focused on developing innovative small molecule therapies for inflammatory, fibrotic, and neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s development pipeline is primarily based on two compounds: MN-166 (ibudilast) and MN-001 (tipelukast), both of which have multiple mechanisms of action and strong safety profiles. MediciNova boasts 11 clinical programs, with its leading asset MN-166 (ibudilast) currently in Phase 3 for ALS and DCM, and Phase 3-ready for progressive MS. Additionally, MN-166 is in Phase 2 trials for Long COVID and substance dependence.

The other key compound, MN-001 (tipelukast), underwent a Phase 2 trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is currently being tested in a second Phase 2 trial for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MediciNova has a commendable history of securing investigator-sponsored clinical trials funded via government grants, which underscores its capacity to attract funding and partnerships for advancing its clinical programs.