MediciNova will be using Captivate EDC to perform a clinical trial to target severe COVID-19. With plans to further their research with their investigational drug, MN-166 (ibudilast). MediciNova plans to target patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19. MediciNova describes ibudilast as "an oral, small-molecule inhibitor of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) -4 and -10" and says the ARDS animal model study has shown ibudilast attenuated the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1, significantly reduced pulmonary edema, and significantly reduced cell apoptosis in lung tissue. Also, a previous human study has shown a reduction in serum MIF levels after ibudilast treatment.
"We are very pleased to announce the initiation of a clinical trial of MN-166 in ARDS caused by COVID-19," Yuichi Iwaki, M.D. Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MediciNova, said.
The study will assess whether MN-166 could mitigate the hyper-inflammation and ARDS associated with severe cases of COVID-19 infection by its MIF inhibitory effect and PDE 4 inhibition to attenuate inflammatory cytokines.
The research will be performed using ClinCapture's Captivate EDC. Working together, both companies hope to advance medical research in hopes to find a treatment for the prevention of ARDS.