MediciNova Inc. (NASDAQ: MNOV) received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application covering the use of ibudilast (MN-166) in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies for treating glioblastoma, the company announced.

The patent, expected to expire no earlier than September 2042, covers multiple treatment parameters including dosing regimen, route of administration, and duration of therapy. The allowed claims encompass combinations with multiple anti-PD-1 antibodies across various treatment conditions.

"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," said Dr. Kazuko Matsuda, Chief Medical Officer at MediciNova.

MN-166 is a small molecule compound that inhibits phosphodiesterase type-4 and inflammatory cytokines. The drug is currently in Phase 3 trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and degenerative cervical myelopathy, and is Phase 3-ready for progressive multiple sclerosis. The company is also evaluating MN-166 in Phase 2 trials for Long COVID and substance dependence.

MediciNova trades on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market under code 4875. The La Jolla, California-based biopharmaceutical company develops treatments for inflammatory, fibrotic, and neurodegenerative diseases based on two primary compounds: MN-166 and MN-001.