SAN DIEGO, Calif., Feb. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova Inc, a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (Nasdaq:MNOV) and the Jasdaq Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (4875), today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a pending patent application, which covers the use of ibudilast for the treatment of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. Ibudilast (MN-166), is the company’s lead drug development candidate for certain neurological conditions, including progressive multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and drug addiction.