UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 28, 2005
MEDICINOVA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 000-51133 | 33-0927979 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 950
San Diego, CA 92122
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 373-1500
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 28, 2005, MediciNova, Inc. announced in a press release the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial for MN-001, an orally administered drug for the treatment of asthma.
Attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety is the press release issued by MediciNova on March 28, 2005.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued March 28, 2005. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 28, 2005.
| MEDICINOVA, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Takashi Kiyoizumi, M.D., Ph.D. | |
| Takashi Kiyoizumi, M.D., Ph.D. | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued March 28, 2005. |
4
Exhibit 99.1
 |
CONTACT: Brian Anderson MediciNova, Inc. Phone: 858-622-9752 Email: banderson@medicinova.com |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MediciNova Initiates a Phase II Clinical Trial with MN-001 in Asthma
Oral Agent is Characterized as Potentially ‘Broadly’ Effective
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – March 28, 2005 — 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 enrollment of patients in a Phase II clinical study with MN-001, a novel, orally administered drug that was licensed from Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. MN-001 is a leukotriene receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases III and IV, 5-lipoxygenase, as well as thromboxane A2.
Under the licensing agreement with Kyorin, MediciNova obtained exclusive worldwide rights, except for Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, to develop and commercialize MN-001. According to the National Institutes of Health, asthma afflicts 3-5% of adults and 7-10% of children in the United States.
“We are enthusiastic about the potential for MN-001 to treat a broad range of patients with asthma,” commented Takashi Kiyoizumi, President and CEO of MediciNova. “The pharmacology of MN-001 is unique and far-ranging, and we are hopeful that a greater proportion of asthmatics will respond to treatment.”
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 premature labor, cancer, asthma, multiple sclerosis and anxiety disorders. For more information on MediciNova Inc., please visit www.medicinova.com.
This press release may contain “forward looking statements” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forwardlooking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These risks include the risk factors detailed in MediciNova’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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