MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on the NASDAQ
Global Market (NASDAQ:MNOV) and the JASDAQ Market of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced that BioComo,
co-developer of MediciNova’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19,
announced that its Respiratory Syncytial (RS) virus vaccine using
BC-PIV technology induced high neutralizing antibodies in
mice. BioComo issued a press release on September 11, 2020.
BioComo’s RS virus vaccine was created using the BC-PIV and
VLP-BC-PIV platform technology developed by BioComo and Mie
University. The RS virus specific antigen was loaded into
BC-PIV and VLP-BC-PIV and mice were inoculated by intranasal
administration. Strong induction of neutralizing antibodies against
the prefusion F antigen was confirmed.
RS virus is known to infect the human respiratory tract and
re-infection occurs throughout life. In general, RS virus
only cause mild cold symptoms in healthy adults. However,
infants with a first-time infection, immunocompromised people, and
elderly people may develop severe diseases such as bronchitis,
bronchiolitis, or pneumonia. RS virus vaccine development has
been ongoing for the past 30 years, but without success to
date.
The successful induction of neutralizing antibodies against the
RS virus using BC-PIV technology and the intranasal route of
administration support the scientific and technical rationale of
MediciNova’s intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19. This
confirmation of neutralizing antibody induction by the RS virus
vaccine strongly supports the likelihood of successful induction of
neutralizing antibodies by MediciNova’s intranasal SARS-CoV-2
vaccine which also uses BC-PIV technology.
BioComo’s RS virus vaccine mouse model study was conducted at
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in
Leipzig, Germany. IZI is the largest research and development
institute in the field of medicine and life sciences in the EU.
MediciNova is also planning to work with IZI for additional
animal studies for its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development.
Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
of MediciNova, Inc., commented, "We are very pleased to confirm
that an intranasal vaccine using BC-PIV technology induces
neutralizing antibodies as demonstrated by BioComo’s RS virus
vaccine. We look forward to reporting additional progress on
our intranasal COVID-19 vaccine using BC-PIV as soon as
possible.”
About the BC-PIV SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
for COVID-19
BC-PIV, an innovative non-transmissible viral vector
co-developed by BioComo and Mie University, is derived from the
recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV2). It is
highly efficient in its ability to transfer multiple foreign
proteins to recipients and has a strong safety profile as no
secondary infectious virus is produced. BC-PIV is designed to
display not only the gene but also the foreign protein itself on
the surface and inside of the viral membrane. Therefore, it can
carry the large membrane proteins of viruses and signal
transduction receptors/ligand proteins on the viral surface.
BC-PIV is able to carry the proteins that require a proper
three-dimensional structure or multimeric structure while
maintaining the structure. BC-PIV elicits good immunogenicity
against antigen proteins without adjuvants. The BC-PIV
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prototype has been developed to include the
specific SARS-CoV-2 antigen protein in order to express maximum
antigenicity. The BC-PIV SARS-CoV-2 vaccine can be developed
as an intranasal vaccine in addition to an intramuscular injection
because of its high affinity to nasal and upper respiratory tract
mucosa, which is the same route of the natural infection of
SARS-CoV-2. An intranasal vaccine is expected to induce local
mucosal immunity. To date, BioComo has succeeded in producing a
recombinant Ebola virus vaccine
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49579-y) and a
Respiratory Syncytial virus prefusion F vaccine (unpublished data)
using this BC-PIV platform technology.
About BioComo
BioComo, a biotech company founded at Mie Prefecture, Japan in
May 2008, is developing cutting-edge technology platforms for
creating the novel and predominant vaccine carriers and adjuvants
to enhance immunity in collaboration with the Microbiology and
Molecular Genetics Department of Mie University. They have already
succeeded in the development of a highly efficacious and
state-of-the art vaccine carrier and novel adjuvant candidates.
Their technology will be applied to the production of the
next generation vaccines for the prevention of infections such as
RS virus, Ebola virus, Influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2. It will
also enable faster and more cost-effective production of those
vaccines. BC-PIV is the core platform technology which
carries the corporate namesake, BioComo, and the leading vaccine
carrier that is derived from the recombinant human parainfluenza
virus 2 (hPIV2) vectors. BioComo is dedicated to inventing
new vaccines for both global infection threats as well as malignant
tumors.
About MediciNovaMediciNova, Inc. is a publicly
traded biopharmaceutical company founded upon acquiring and
developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of
diseases with unmet medical needs with a primary commercial focus
on the U.S. market. MediciNova's current strategy is to focus on
BC-PIV SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19, MN-166 (ibudilast) for
neurological disorders such as progressive multiple sclerosis (MS),
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and substance dependence (e.g.,
alcohol use disorder, methamphetamine dependence, opioid
dependence), as well as prevention of acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19, and MN-001 (tipelukast) for
fibrotic diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). MediciNova’s pipeline
also includes MN-221 (bedoradrine) for the treatment of acute
exacerbations of asthma and MN-029 (denibulin) for solid tumor
cancers. MediciNova is engaged in strategic partnering and
other potential funding discussions to support further development
of its programs. For more information on MediciNova, Inc., please
visit www.medicinova.com.
Statements in this press release that are not historical in
nature constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, statements regarding the future development and
efficacy of BC-PIV SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, MN-166, MN-001, MN-221, and
MN-029. These forward-looking statements may be preceded by,
followed by or otherwise include the words "believes," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "can," "could,"
"may," "will," "would," “considering,” “planning” or similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements involve a number of
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results
or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
risks of obtaining future partner or grant funding for development
of BC-PIV SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, MN-166, MN-001, MN-221, and MN-029
and risks of raising sufficient capital when needed to fund
MediciNova's operations and contribution to clinical development,
risks and uncertainties inherent in clinical trials, including the
potential cost, expected timing and risks associated with clinical
trials designed to meet FDA guidance and the viability of further
development considering these factors, product development and
commercialization risks, the uncertainty of whether the results of
clinical trials will be predictive of results in later stages of
product development, the risk of delays or failure to obtain or
maintain regulatory approval, risks associated with the reliance on
third parties to sponsor and fund clinical trials, risks regarding
intellectual property rights in product candidates and the ability
to defend and enforce such intellectual property rights, the risk
of failure of the third parties upon whom MediciNova relies to
conduct its clinical trials and manufacture its product candidates
to perform as expected, the risk of increased cost and delays due
to delays in the commencement, enrollment, completion or analysis
of clinical trials or significant issues regarding the adequacy of
clinical trial designs or the execution of clinical trials, and the
timing of expected filings with the regulatory authorities,
MediciNova's collaborations with third parties, the availability of
funds to complete product development plans and MediciNova's
ability to obtain third party funding for programs and raise
sufficient capital when needed, and the other risks and
uncertainties described in MediciNova's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019 and its subsequent periodic
reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Undue
reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date hereof. MediciNova disclaims any
intent or obligation to revise or update these forward-looking
statements.
INVESTOR CONTACT: |
Geoff O'BrienVice PresidentMediciNova, Inc.info@medicinova.com |
|
Medicinova (NASDAQ:MNOV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Medicinova (NASDAQ:MNOV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024