SAN DIEGO, Feb. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova Inc, a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (Nasdaq:MNOV) and the Jasdaq Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (4875), will be presenting at the 18th annual American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) scientific assembly at the Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego. Kazuko Matsuda, M.D., Ph.D, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of MediciNova, will provide an overview of current treatment practice in emergency departments for patients presenting with acute bronchospasms related to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and MediciNova's novel pharmacotherapy, MN-221, that MediciNova is developing to address currently unmet needs. The oral presentation will take place Thursday, February 9th at 3:30pm (PST), in the Spreckles A&B conference room.
MediciNova's approach for treating acute bronchospasm in asthma or COPD patients visiting emergency departments involves the intravenous administration of a proprietary, highly-selective beta-agonist compound (MN-221, bedoradrine) with limited cardiovascular-stimulating action. Dr. Matsuda noted that, "Our pre-clinical and clinical studies to date indicate that MN-221 has the potential to be safely administered as adjunctive therapy with standard drug therapy in the emergency department to provide added bronchodilation. Inhaled beta(2)-adrenergic agonists, which are the current standard of care, are often inadequate to control these types of bronchospasms." MediciNova is currently running a multi-site U.S. proof-of-concept safety and efficacy phase 2 clinical trial.
"We are excited with the progress of our phase 2 trial in patients suffering from acute exacerbations of asthma in the emergency department. We are particularly looking forward to data analysis and reporting of top-line results slated for late March," commented Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MediciNova. "In addition, we are encouraged by the continued development of MN-221 for potential utility in the treatment of COPD due to our collaboration with Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd." noted Dr. Iwaki.
About MN-221
MN-221 is a novel, highly selective, beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist in development as an intravenous treatment for acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD exacerbations. Preclinical testing in vitro and in vivo shows MN-221 to be more selective for the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor than other beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists commonly used for acute exacerbations of asthma. This improved selectivity, coupled with its partial agonist activity at beta(1)-adrenergic receptors, may yield bronchodilation without harmful cardiovascular side effects that might be observed with other agents. MediciNova has completed several Phase 1, 1b, and 2a trials and is currently enrolling for the phase 2 asthma exacerbation trial in emergency departments and is initiating a multi-day, multiple-administration Phase 1b safety and preliminary efficacy trial in stable, moderate-to-severe COPD patients in clinical research units. Previously, MN-221 demonstrated improvements in FEV1 and other respiratory function parameters as well as a 45% decrease in the hospitalization rate when added to current standard of care in a Phase 2a study of acute asthma patients in the emergency room.
About MediciNova
MediciNova, Inc. is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company founded upon acquiring and developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with unmet need with a commercial focus on the U.S. market. Through strategic alliances primarily with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, MediciNova holds rights to a diversified portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates, each of which MediciNova believes has a well-characterized and differentiated therapeutic profile, attractive commercial potential, and patent coverage of commercially adequate scope. MediciNova's pipeline includes six clinical-stage compounds for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma, COPD exacerbations, multiple sclerosis and other neurologic conditions, asthma, interstitial cystitis, solid tumor cancers, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, preterm labor and urinary incontinence and two preclinical-stage compounds for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. MediciNova's current strategy is to focus on its two prioritized product candidates, MN-221, for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD exacerbations, and ibudilast (MN-166/AV411). Each drug candidate is involved in clinical trials under U.S. and Investigator INDs. MediciNova is engaged in strategic partnering discussions to support further development of the MN-221 and ibudilast programs. Additionally, MediciNova will seek to monetize opportunistically its other pipeline candidates. For more information on MediciNova, Inc., please visit www.medicinova.com.
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Statements in this press release that are not historical in nature constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected availability of top-line results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial of MN-221, expected commencement of a Phase 1 trial of MN-221 for the treatment of COPD including any implication on the outcome of ongoing trials or that the company will have the ability to execute on its priorities. These forward-looking statements may be preceded by, followed by or otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "can," "could," "may," "will," "would," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties inherent in clinical trials, product development and commercialization, such as the uncertainty in results of clinical trials for product candidates, the uncertainty of whether the results of clinical trials will be predictive of results in later stages of product development, the risk of delays or failure to obtain or maintain regulatory approval, risks regarding intellectual property rights in product candidates and the ability to defend and enforce such intellectual property rights, the risk of failure of the third parties upon whom MediciNova relies to conduct its clinical trials and manufacture its product candidates to perform as expected, the risk of increased cost and delays due to delays in the commencement, enrollment, completion or analysis of clinical trials or significant issues regarding the adequacy of clinical trial designs or the execution of clinical trials and the timing, cost and design of future clinical trials and research activities, the timing of expected filings with the regulatory authorities, MediciNova's collaborations with third parties, the availability of funds to complete product development plans and MediciNova's ability to raise sufficient capital when needed, and the other risks and uncertainties described in MediciNova's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. MediciNova disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.