MediciNova To Gain US Patent Covering ibudilast To Treat Respiratory Ailment

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical firm, said that it has obtained a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a pending patent application for MN-166 (ibudilast) for the treatment of chlorine-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Once issued, this patent is likely to expire no early than January 2042. The permitted claims include the use of MN-166 (ibudilast) to treat chlorine-induced ARDS. The authorized claims include the use of MN-166 (ibudilast) as a monotherapy or in combination with one or more additional medications. The authorized claims include oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and inhalation administration. The authorized claims for MN-166 (ibudilast) include a wide variety of dosages, dosing frequencies, and treatment periods.

Kazuko Matsuda, MD, PhD, MPH, chief medical officer of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "We are very pleased to receive notice of this new patent allowance and we believe it could increase the potential value of MN-166. The potential efficacy of MN-166 for the treatment of chlorine-induced ARDS was recently demonstrated in a nonclinical model study of chlorine-induced lung damage in which MN-166 demonstrated a large and significant improvement in pulmonary function and a higher survival rate.”

MN-166 (ibudilast) is a small chemical inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) and inflammatory cytokines, particularly 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). It is also being developed for glioblastoma, Long COVID, CIPN (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy), and substance use disorder. In addition, MN-166 (ibudilast) was tested in individuals at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).