Cystitis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the urinary bladder characterized by variable degrees of urinary urgency, frequency and bladder pain. MN-001 is an orally administered drug with a novel mechanism of action that includes leukotriene receptor antagonism and inhibition of phosphodiesterases III and IV, 5-lipoxygenase, as well as thromboxane A2.
Under a licensing agreement with the Japanese firm Kyorin Pharmaceutical, MediciNova obtained exclusive worldwide rights, except for Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, to develop and commercialize MN-001. MediciNova is also conducting a phase II clinical study with MN-001 for the treatment of asthma.
“According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, Interstitial Cystitis affects approximately 700,000 patients in the US and over 200,000 patients in Europe,” commented Takashi Kiyoizumi, president and CEO of MediciNova. “We are beginning a phase II study of MN-001 in the hope that it will provide another safe and effective treatment for patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis.”