Phase IIb study funding approved for MediciNova's MS drug MN-166

USA-based biopharma company MediciNova (Nasdaq: MNOV), which is also listed in Japan (TYO: 4875) has received funding and regulatory approval of a US National Institutes of Health-based grant for a Phase IIb trial of MN-166 (ibudilast) in subjects with progressive multiple sclerosis (progressive MS).

The grant is for a funded cooperative effort by the NeuroNEXT clinical trial network within the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the NIH. The collaboration also includes multiple academic centers, MediciNova and advocacy support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The NIH investigator will be Robert Fox, staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Cleveland Clinic. Dr Fox said: "MS is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurologic disability in young adults and there are no approved therapies to alter the long-term course of this disease. This will be a very important trial in the USA as we will have an opportunity to both evaluate the safety and efficacy of a potential neuroprotective therapy and to advance the development of clinical tools for studying neurodegenerative disorders."