Funds for MediciNova in order to extend clinical development for asthma
MediciNova is a biopharmaceutical company, publicly traded, which focuses on developing new medicines for diseases who do not have a cure yet. The company has established partnerships with Japanese companies for developing these medicines who will have a commercial focus for the market of the United States.
MediciNova holds patterns for a different range of clinical and preclinical products from cures for asthma to different neurological diseases.
One of these Japanese companies, with whom MediciNova has built an alliance, is Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., who will pay the first one 2.5$ million in order to extend further developments for the medicine called MN-221.
This medicine is considered to bring a cure for patients with acute exacerbations of asthma and patients suffering from COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The medicine has been tested under two main stages of research. So far, MN-221 passed phases 1 and 2a of the tests and is currently undergoing phase 2b.
MN-221 is basically an adrenergic receptor used as an intravenous treatment for acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD. This receptor in alliance with beta 1- adrenergic receptor decreases the resistance of the respiratory airways and allows the airflows to reach the lungs.
In the cases of asthma, after the use of MN-221, researchers observed an improvement in the forced expiratory volume of the asthma patients and also a decrease of approximately 45% decrease in the hospitalization rate when added to the current treatment. One of the main benefits of this medicine compared to others, it's that it does not affect the cardiovascular functions of the patients.
For patients suffering from COPD, MN-221 has just passed Phase 1b of the study, showing significant improvements for the forced expiratory volume of the patients.
Kissei Pharmaceuticals is one of the leaders on the pharmaceutical market in Japan who is looking for a worldwide expansion through offering funds in order to help develop medicines for all types of diseases that don't have a cure.
The announcement was made by MediciNova on the 17th of October by the President and CEO, Dr. Yuichi Iwaki.
