MediciNova is approaching a pivotal moment in its clinical development programs, with the company's Phase 2/3 COMBAT-ALS trial for MN-166 (ibudilast) now requiring only single-digit enrollment to complete randomization. The biopharmaceutical company announced that its Phase 2 trial for MN-001 (tipelukast) in patients with dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease due to type 2 diabetes is similarly close to completion, needing just two additional randomized subjects.
COMBAT-ALS Program Reaches Critical Milestone
The COMBAT-ALS trial represents MediciNova's flagship program for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. Dr. Yuichi Iwaki, MediciNova President and CEO, emphasized the significance of this enrollment milestone, stating, "Following the release of interim results last year, we are now approaching the completion of patient randomization—a key milestone in the study."
The company's ALS program has garnered substantial support from the medical community, with a large Expanded Access Program (EAP) backed by a $22 million grant from the NIH steadily enrolling patients alongside the main trial. This parallel program demonstrates the significant interest and anticipation within the ALS community for potential new treatment options.
MediciNova is actively preparing for regulatory discussions with the FDA, with top-line data from the COMBAT-ALS trial anticipated by the end of next year. The company holds both Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the FDA for MN-166 in ALS treatment, as well as Orphan Drug Designation from the EU EMA.
MN-166 Mechanism and Broader Applications
MN-166 (ibudilast) is an orally available small molecule compound that inhibits phosphodiesterase type-4 (PDE4) and inflammatory cytokines, including macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Beyond ALS, the compound is in late-stage clinical development for treating other neurodegenerative diseases including progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).
The drug's development pipeline extends to additional indications including glioblastoma, Long COVID, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and substance use disorders. MN-166 has also been evaluated in patients at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), highlighting its broad therapeutic potential across multiple disease areas.
MN-001 Program Advances in Metabolic Disorders
Concurrently, MediciNova's MN-001 (tipelukast) program is nearing completion of its Phase 2 trial in patients with dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease associated with type 2 diabetes. The compound represents a novel approach to treating fibrotic and metabolic disorders through multiple mechanisms of action.
MN-001 exerts its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects through leukotriene receptor antagonism, inhibition of phosphodiesterases (primarily PDE3 and PDE4), and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). The 5-LO/LT pathway has been identified as a pathogenic factor in fibrosis development, making MN-001's inhibitory effect on this pathway a potentially novel therapeutic approach.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MN-001 down-regulates expression of genes promoting fibrosis, including LOXL2, Collagen Type 1, and TIMP-1, while also reducing expression of inflammatory genes such as CCR2 and MCP-1. Additionally, the compound has been shown to inhibit triglyceride synthesis in hepatocytes by blocking arachidonic acid uptake.
Strategic Focus on Unmet Medical Needs
Dr. Iwaki highlighted the company's commitment to addressing significant unmet medical needs, noting, "We believe each of these programs address highly unmet medical needs in very difficult-to-treat conditions, and we look forward to providing additional outcomes from each of these trials as results become available."
MediciNova's strategy focuses on developing MN-166 for neurological and other disorders, while advancing MN-001 for fibrotic and metabolic conditions including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hypertriglyceridemia. The company plans to advance its pipeline through investigator-sponsored clinical trials, government-funded studies, proprietary trials, and strategic alliances to support further clinical development of its lead programs.
