MediciNova reports additional Phase IIb data for ibudilast in MS

MediciNova Inc. (NASDAQ:MNOV; JASDAQ:4875) reported additional data from the Phase IIb SPRINT-MS trial in 255 patients with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis showing that twice-daily oral ibudilast (Ketas, AV411, MN-166) met the secondary endpoint of reducing the progression of cortical atrophy vs. placebo (reduction of 80% compared with placebo, p=0.004). Ibudilast missed the secondary endpoint of reducing retinal nerve fiber layer thinning vs. placebo. Data were presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Los Angeles.

Last year, MediciNova reported that ibudilast met the double-blind, U.S. trial’s primary endpoint of reducing whole brain atrophy progression rate at 96 weeks as measured by brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) vs. placebo (p=0.04). The company said it is preparing for an end-of-Phase II meeting with FDA (see BioCentury, Nov. 3, 2017)...