Glossary

In pharmacology, this describes a pharmaceutical agent that aids or strengthens the effect of a drug.

proteins produced by the immune systemto identify and destroy foreign matters and pathogens

specific structures to which antibodies bind;
Their purpose is to stimulate the production of antibodies.

method to test the actual effects of a drug;
In blinded studies, the study participants do not know to which therapy group they are assigned. This prevents the distortion of the results through subjective impressions and expectations or suggestive influences.

small signal proteins that belong to the cytokine group;
Chemokines trigger the migration of cells. The cells move to the area with the highest concentration of chemokines. Chemokines play a key role in the migration of immune cells in the tissue and their migration from the blood. Some chemokines also activate immune cells.

inhibition of the growth of tumor cells in organisms by the use of chemical substances;
The term usually refers to cytostatic chemotherapy, which means the combating of tumor cells through the use of medicines that inhibit cell division.

systematic study of humans with the objective of gaining knowledge about diagnostic procedures, treatment methods or drugs

In a clinical study, the control group receives the standard treatment or no treatment at all, if this is possible. The control group is merely observed during the course of the study.

Cytokines are molecules produced by the human body that control the immune system. They are formed by immune cells, such as NK or NKT cells.

drugs that preferred inhibit the growth of tumor cells but also damage healthy cells to a certain extent;
Cell division is often prevented.

As with a blinded study, the therapy assignment is concealed. In a double-blinded study, this information is withheld from both the principal investigator and the study participants.

double Stem Loop Immunomodulator

Abbreviation for European Medicines Agency

an independent panel required by Section 40 of the German Medicines Act (Arzneimittelgesetz) that evaluates the ethical and legal consequences of clinical studies and ensures the protection of study participants;
Panel representatives include lawyres and medical laypeople as well as doctorswho work on clinical studies.

Abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration, the US authority that monitors food and approves drugs

international guidelines and quality standards for the execution of clinical studies

natural killer cells (NK cells)
These are lymphocytes (subgroup of white blood cells). They have the abillity to recognize and kill abnormal cells, such as tumor cells and cells infected by viruses. NK cells do not have any antigen-specific receptors and are part of the innate immune system.

Minimalistic immunogenically defined gene expression

clinical study carried out at several locations or in several study centers

Despite their name, these are T cells, not NK cells. They have the ability to destroy tumor cells. Moreover, NKT cells can produce large amounts of cytokines.

the branch of science that deals with cancer

This describes a drug for the treatment of rare diseases. The development of such a drug is usually uneconomical and is therefore supported by the pharmaceutical authorities through means such as simplified approval processes and exclusive marketing rights for a period of ten years for the developing company. Drugs designated as orphan drugs are recorded in the Community register for Orphan Medicinal Products.

Palliative therapy is used in the treatment of cancer to relieve discomforts such as pain, nausea, loss of appetite, or fatigue. Its objective is to maintain or improve the quality of life.

researches the effect of drugs on the body and describes them by means of the efficacy profile, dose-response relationship and mechanism of action

research on all processes relating to an active agent in the body (absorption, distribution, modification, degredation and excretion)

a "dummy drug" that contains no active medicinal agent;
The placebo effect refers to all implications (including side effects) that are triggered by such a dummy drug and for which there are no pharmacological explanations. It also refers to physical effects on the body that have not yet been fully researched.

study participant

evidence of feasibility;
review of the therapy concept in phase II within a clinical study

preventive vaccination that prepares the immune system to combat pozential future infections

Study participants are assigned randomly to a treatment group. This is intended to ensure that unknown factors of influence are distributed equally between the study groups.

The sponsor of a clinical study is responsible for the organizational procedures. The sponsor has the sole and exclusive responsibility and bears the business risk as well. All renowned scientific journals require that the sponsor be named, for reasons of transparency. MOLOGEN AG always declares sponsoring.

a recognized treatment method that is usually applied;
Its efficacy has been proven through previous therapy studies and clinical experiences.

see study protocol

directions for treatment that are precisely stipulated in the procedures for a clinical study

vaccination to treat an already existing infection or an already present tumor

vaccination, from the Latin vaccinus (originating in cows), originally described the procedure developed by Edward Jenner in 1796 to use cowpox viruses to vaccinate against smallpox. The term is generelly used today to describe active vaccinations.