MediciNova, Inc. Announces The Initiation Of A Phase I Trial Of MN-246, A Novel Oral Treatment For Urinary Incontinence

SAN DIEGO, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 initiation of a Phase I clinical trial to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of its novel oral treatment for urinary incontinence (MN-246) in healthy human volunteers.

MN-246 is a novel, potent and highly selective Beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist under development by MediciNova for the treatment of urinary incontinence. It represents a potential new approach to treating urinary incontinence and may have advantages over existing therapies, including improvements in efficacy through increases in bladder volume with decreases in involuntary bladder contractions and the absence of anti-cholinergic side effects such as dry mouth.

Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a symptom and not a disease in itself. A broad range of conditions and disorders can cause incontinence, including surgery, injuries, neurological diseases, infections and degenerative changes associated with aging. It can also occur as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. According to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Urinary Incontinence in Adults published in 1996 by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 13 million Americans are incontinent with 85% of them being women. Consumer research suggests that one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily and one in five adults over age 40 is affected by overactive bladder or recurrent symptoms of urgency and frequency. The National Association for Continence estimates that 25 million adult Americans experience transient or chronic urinary incontinence. Sufferers may also experience anxiety and embarrassment about their condition, as well as physical discomfort.

"MN-246 may offer a unique approach to treating this common and distressing condition without the side effects (e.g., dry mouth, headache, blurred vision, constipation and abdominal pain) associated with currently available treatments," said Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of MediciNova, Inc. "The initiation of this Phase I trial with MN-246 demonstrates MediciNova's commitment to identifying and advancing new therapies for conditions with significant unmet medical needs."

MediciNova acquired a license to MN-246 from Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation for global markets, with the exception of Japan and other selected Asian countries. The data acquired from Mitsubishi includes extensive preclinical test results.

About MediciNova

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 cancer, asthma, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, preterm labor and urinary incontinence. For more information on MediciNova, Inc., please visit www.medicinova.com.

This press release may contain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements regarding clinical trials supporting efficacy of one of our product candidates as well as the potential novelty of that candidate as a treatment for disease. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company's management that are believed to be reasonable at the time. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including the results of clinical studies and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Kenneth W. Locke, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of MediciNova,Inc., +1-858-373-1200, locke@medicinova.com

Web site: http://www.medicinova.com/