MGN1331 - DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis

About leishmaniasis

Around 12 million people around the world, with growing geographical distribution, in 88 countries on four continents, are currently infected with leishmaniasis and the trend is increasing considerably. This debilitating and often fatal infectious disease affecting humans and animals is therefore currently one of the 14 "neglected diseases" which the World Health Organization is stepping up its efforts to fight.

According to estimates by the WHO, more than a billion people worldwide suffer from these "neglected diseases".  MOLOGEN AG is engaging in the battle against leishmaniasis.  Together with highly respected research institutions from all over the world, the company is currently developing its innovative MGN1331 vaccine to help prevent and treat this disease.

Internal leishmaniasis causes particularly severe effects in individuals concurrently infected with HIV due to the weakened immune system. The global demand for medically effective prevention and treatment is enormous:  Experts estimate that around 500,000 people per year develop the severe form of leishmaniasis, which claims over 50,000 lives annually. 

MGN1331 - joint research in a consortium

MOLOGEN AG recognized the potential of innovative DNA vaccines against leishmaniasis early on.  Its own MIDGE^® platform technology forms the basis for prophylactic and therapeutic DNA vaccines.

In the complex process of developing a vaccine against leishmaniasis, MOLOGEN AG has teamed up with international partners from the field of leishmaniasis research (www.leishdnavax.org).  The consortium receives extensive financial support from funds provided by the European Union.

The aim of the leishdnavax research project is to develop a prophylactic and therapeutic DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis.  The plan at the end of the three-year project is to perform clinical studies with the novel, broadly applicable MGN1331 vaccine.