Full Press Release Details
MediciNova Initiates a Phase II Clinical Trial with
Oral Agent is Characterized as
Potentially Broadly Effective
SAN DIEGO, Calif. March
28, 2005 MediciNova, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code number: 4875), today announced the enrollment of patients in a Phase II clinical study with
MN-001, a novel, orally administered drug that was licensed from Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. MN-001 is a leukotriene receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases III and IV, 5-lipoxygenase, as well as thromboxane
Under the licensing agreement with Kyorin, MediciNova obtained exclusive
worldwide rights, except for Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, to develop and commercialize MN-001. According to the National Institutes of Health, asthma afflicts 3-5% of adults and 7-10% of children in the United States.
We are enthusiastic about the potential for MN-001 to treat a broad range of patients
with asthma, commented Takashi Kiyoizumi, President and CEO of MediciNova. The pharmacology of MN-001 is unique and far-ranging, and we are hopeful that a greater proportion of asthmatics will respond to treatment.
MediciNova, Inc. is a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company focused on accelerating the global development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical
products. MediciNova s pipeline, which includes several compounds in clinical testing, targets a variety of prevalent medical conditions, including premature labor, cancer, asthma, multiple sclerosis and anxiety disorders. For more information
on MediciNova Inc., please visit www.medicinova.com.
This press release may
contain forward looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the
Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forwardlooking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management s experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the
Company, which may cause the Company s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These risks include the risk factors detailed in MediciNova s Securities and Exchange Commission