MediciNova, Inc. announced it has received a Notice of Decision to Grant from the European Patent Office for a pending patent application which covers the combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and interferon-beta for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (progressive MS). Once issued, the patent maturing from this allowed patent application is expected to expire no earlier than October 2039. The allowed claims cover a combination of MN-166 (ibudilast) and interferon-beta for use in a method of treating, alleviating the negative effects of, or slowing the progression of progressive multiple sclerosis in patients previously treated with interferon-beta.

The allowed claims cover MN-166 (ibudilast) and interferon-beta administered in separate dosage forms, administered in the same dosage form, administered simultaneously, or administered consecutively. The allowed claims specifically cover the treatment of both primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The allowed claims cover a wide range of doses of both MN-166 (ibudilast) and interferon-beta, a wide range of dosing durations for the combination, and a range of different dosing frequencies for interferon-beta.

MN-166 (ibudilast) is a small molecule compound that inhibits phosphodiesterase type-4 (PDE4) and inflammatory cytokines, including 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); and is also in development for glioblastoma, Long COVID, CIPN (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy), and substance use disorder. In addition, MN-166 (ibudilast) was evaluated in patients that are at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).