8-K

MEDICINOVA, INC.

Dated: May 5, 2021

/s/ Yuichi Iwaki

Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

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): May 5, 2021

MEDICINOVA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-33185

33-0927979

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

4275 Executive Square, Suite 300

La Jolla, CA 92037

(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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

MNOV

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(Title of each class)

(Trading symbol(s))

(Name of each exchange

on which registered)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01

Other Events.

MediciNova, Inc. announced today the appointment of Dr. Federico Gaeta as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Gaeta has served as Senior Scientific Advisor and previously as Consultant for MediciNova since 2010, and is responsible for drug discovery, formulation development, manufacturing and related activities. Previously, Dr. Gaeta was a consultant for Avigen, Inc. before its merger with MediciNova. Prior to joining forces with MediciNova, Dr. Gaeta was a senior management executive with Geron and Cytel corporations. In addition, Dr. Gaeta garnered additional drug discovery and development experience at multinational pharma companies including Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck. Dr. Gaeta obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Rice University and completed postdoctoral research at UCLA under Dr. Donald J. Cram, Nobel laureate in chemistry. He is named inventor in over 100 patents and patent publications.

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.

MediciNova, Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Other Events