On June 8, 2026 MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), reported that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a pending patent application that covers the use of ibudilast (MN-166) in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, specifically an anti-PD-1 antibody, for the treatment of glioblastoma. This patent allowance is expected to further strengthen the intellectual property position supporting the Company’s combination therapy development strategy.
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Kazuko Matsuda, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "This Notice of Allowance further strengthens our intellectual property estate for MN-166 in glioblastoma and supports continued evaluation of ibudilast-based combination strategies in this aggressive malignancy. The allowed claims encompass use in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies across multiple treatment parameters, including dosing regimen, route of administration, and duration of therapy, which we believe is strategically important as we continue to assess the potential clinical utility of MN-166 in oncology. Given the persistent unmet need in glioblastoma, we believe this patent position provides important support for the ongoing development of rational combination approaches intended to improve therapeutic outcomes."
Once issued, this patent is expected to expire no earlier than September 2042. The allowed claims cover not only the combination of ibudilast with multiple anti-PD-1 antibodies, but also a broad range of treatment conditions, including duration of administration, dosing frequency, route of administration, dose levels, and dosing schedules.
About MN-166 (ibudilast)
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).
(Press release, MediciNova, JUN 8, 2026, https://investors.medicinova.com/news-releases/news-release-details/medicinova-receives-notice-allowance-new-patent-covering-use-mn [SID1234666484])