MediciNova
MediciNova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drug candidates MN-166 (ibudilast) for neurological and oncological diseases and MN-001 (tipelukast) for metabolic disorders, serving patients with ALS, multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma, and NAFLD through Phase 2/3 clinical trials.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MediciNova does
MediciNova, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in San Diego, California, listed on NASDAQ (MNOV) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company acquires and develops novel, small-molecule therapeutics, with two lead drug candidates: MN-166 (ibudilast), a brain-penetrant small molecule that blocks MIF-CD74 signaling and targets neuroinflammation, currently being evaluated in Phase 2b/3 trials for ALS (COMBAT-ALS) and other neurological indications including progressive multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma (in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies), and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy; and MN-001 (tipelukast), a small molecule with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties whose metabolite MN-002 enhances cholesterol efflux, in Phase 2 development for hypertriglyceridemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and type 2 diabetes. The company has secured FDA Orphan Drug Designations and Fast Track status for MN-166 in ALS, and holds US patents extending market exclusivity until at least 2040, with a newly allowed glioblastoma combination patent extending to no earlier than September 2042.
MediciNova operates with a lean organization (1-10 employees) and is pre-revenue, with quarterly revenue of approximately $0.15 million and a trailing twelve-month free cash burn of negative $9.73 million. Its revenue model is contingent on future FDA approval and commercialization of its drug candidates, with planned commercialization through direct sales and potential licensing. The company's GTM motion revolves around clinical development through FDA regulatory pathways, participation in investor conferences (e.g., ROTH Conference), and maintaining analyst coverage to attract capital for ongoing Phase 2/3 trials. MediciNova is funded primarily through capital markets activity, including a $30 million Standby Equity Purchase Agreement with Yorkville Advisors and a $50 million at-the-market equity distribution agreement with Lucid Capital Markets, supplemented by a $22 million NIH/NINDS grant for the ALS expanded access program.
The company's customer base, by design, is currently restricted to clinical trial sites and patient populations in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with planned downstream customers being patients, prescribers, and payors upon regulatory approval. The company has received industry recognition including a 2025 BioTech Breakthrough Contract Research and Development Innovation Award for its work on MN-166 in neurological diseases, and has expanded its research collaboration with the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) for biomarker-driven research in brain metastases.
MediciNova firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MediciNova
- Legal name
- MediciNova, Inc.
- Website
- https://medicinova.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MediciNova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drug candidates MN-166 (ibudilast) for neurological and oncological diseases and MN-001 (tipelukast) for metabolic disorders, serving patients with ALS, multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma, and NAFLD through Phase 2/3 clinical trials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MediciNova industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ)
Keywords
Where MediciNova is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MediciNova business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Drug Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule therapeutics for neurological diseases (ALS, MS), cancer (brain metastasis, glioblastoma), metabolic disorders (hypertriglyceridemia, NAFLD, T2DM), and other conditions. Revenue will be generated upon successful FDA approval and commercialization of drug candidates.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
MediciNova product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MediciNova is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing novel small-molecule therapeutics for neurological, inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases. Its lead drug candidate MN-166 (ibudilast) is a brain-penetrant small molecule in Phase II/III development for ALS, progressive multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma (with anti-PD-1 antibodies), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and brain metastasis. Its second candidate MN-001 (tipelukast) is in Phase 2 for hypertriglyceridemia, NAFLD, and type 2 diabetes.
Product overview
MediciNova is a biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of small-molecule drug candidates for neurological, inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases. The company's two lead programs are MN-166 (ibudilast), a brain-penetrant neuroinflammatory inhibitor being advanced through Phase II/III trials for ALS and other neurological conditions, and MN-001 (tipelukast), an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic agent in Phase 2 development for hypertriglyceridemia, NAFLD, and type 2 diabetes. Both candidates have received regulatory designations (Orphan Drug, Fast Track) and patent protection extending into the 2040s.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use MediciNova
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
MediciNova technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
MediciNova partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CNIO (Spanish National Cancer Research Centre)minorCollaboration on future biomarker-driven clinical research for patients with solid tumors having brain metastases. Based on peer-reviewed study published in Cancer Research demonstrating MN-166's ability to block MIF-CD74 signaling and suppress brain metastasis growth in preclinical models.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MediciNova competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cytokinetics: Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule therapeutics for ALS (reldesemtiv) and other neuromuscular diseases. Directly comparable as a small-molecule CNS/neurology focused public biotech with similar clinical-stage assets.
- AB Science: AB Science is developing masitinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for ALS and other neurological/inflammatory conditions. Directly comparable as a small-molecule clinical-stage company targeting ALS and progressive MS with similar mechanism-of-action challenges.
- Clene Nanomedicine: Clene is developing CNM-Au8, a gold nanocatalyst therapy for ALS, MS, and Parkinson's disease. Comparable as a small clinical-stage biotech pursuing CNS indications with a novel mechanism and similar regulatory pathway considerations.
- Annovis Bio: Annovis Bio is developing buntanetap, a small-molecule for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Comparable as a small-cap public biotech developing small-molecule therapeutics for CNS indications with similar pre-commercial risk profile.
Broad incumbents
- Biogen: Biogen is a major neurology-focused biopharmaceutical company with approved and pipeline assets in ALS, MS, and rare neurological diseases (Spinraza, Aduhelm, Qalsody). Broad incumbent that competes in MediciNova's target indications with substantially greater resources.
- Sanofi: Sanofi developed and commercializes tofersen (Qalsody) for SOD1 ALS, directly competing with MediciNova in the ALS therapeutics space. Major global pharmaceutical company with established neurology franchise and commercialization capabilities.
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis is a leading antisense oligonucleotide platform company developing therapies for neurological diseases including ALS and SMA (with partner Biogen). Broad incumbent in neurology drug development with platform technology spanning multiple CNS indications.
- Denali Therapeutics: Denali Therapeutics develops therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases including ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's using both small molecules and biologics. Comparable as a well-capitalized neurology biotech with multiple CNS programs in clinical development.
Emerging players
- Biohaven Pharmaceuticals: Biohaven develops therapeutics across neurology and rare diseases, including assets for ALS and other CNS conditions. Comparable as a mid-sized neurology-focused biotech pursuing indications overlapping with MediciNova's pipeline.
- Cerevel Therapeutics: Cerevel Therapeutics develops small-molecule therapeutics for neuroscience diseases including Parkinson's and epilepsy. Comparable as a CNS-focused clinical-stage company with similar modality (small molecules) and development-stage profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MediciNova social profiles
Digital presenceMediciNova financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MediciNova leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
MediciNova funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MediciNova M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MediciNova
What does MediciNova do?
MediciNova is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing novel small-molecule therapeutics for neurological, inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases. Its lead drug candidate MN-166 (ibudilast) is a brain-penetrant small molecule in Phase II/III development for ALS, progressive multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma (with anti-PD-1 antibodies), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and brain metastasis. Its second candidate MN-001 (tipelukast) is in Phase 2 for hypertriglyceridemia, NAFLD, and type 2 diabetes.
Is MediciNova a public or private company?
MediciNova is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was MediciNova founded?
MediciNova was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MediciNova based?
MediciNova is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does MediciNova make money?
One revenue line is on record: drug Development and Commercialization.
Who are MediciNova's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cytokinetics, AB Science, Clene Nanomedicine and Annovis Bio. Broad incumbents are Biogen, Sanofi, Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Denali Therapeutics. Emerging players are Biohaven Pharmaceuticals and Cerevel Therapeutics.
Does MediciNova have an API?
No public API is recorded for MediciNova.
What industry is MediciNova in?
MediciNova's product category is Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAIAD, Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.