LA JOLLA, Calif., April 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market MNOV and the JASDAQ Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (code number: 4875) announced today that they have received a Notice of Permission from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for a pending patent application covering MN-001 (tipelukast) for the treatment of advanced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ( NASH).

Once granted, the patent arising out of this allowable patent application is not expected to expire until May 2035 at the earliest. Allowable claims cover MN-001 (Tipelukast) for the treatment of a patient diagnosed with advanced NASH. Eligible claims also cover treatment of advanced NASH patients presenting with hepatic fibrosis, spider angiomas, ascites, splenomegaly, hard hepatic rim, palmar erythema, asterixis, portal hypertension, hepatic scarring, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, approved claims cover MN-001 (Tipelukast) for reducing liver fibrosis and liver scarring in a patient with advanced NASH. Permitted claims include oral administration, including tablets and capsules, as well as liquid dosage forms. The allowable claims cover a wide range of doses of MN-001 (Tipelukast) and a number of different dosing frequencies.

Kazuko Matsuda, MD Ph.D, MPH., Chief Medical Officer, MediciNova, Inc., commented, “We are very pleased to be informed that this new patent will be granted as we believe it demonstrates the potential value of MN- 001 could improve We previously reported positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of MN-001 enrolling NASH and NAFLD patients with hypertriglyceridemia. The US FDA has granted MN-001 Fast Track Designation for Treatment of NASH with Fibrosis The Office has previously granted a patent covering MN-001 and MN-002 for advanced NASH with fibrosis, and similar patents have been granted in Japan and Korea.”

About MN-001 (tipelukast)

MN-001…