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MOLOGEN AG: Clinical study with MGN1404 in malignant melanoma initiated - Seite 2

vectors directly into the tumor cells. The expression of TNF-alpha is
triggered there by the MIDGE(R) vectors aiming to induce cell death in the
tumor.

Malignant melanoma
Malignant melanomas are one of the most malignant forms of skin cancer. The
worldwide occurrence of malignant melanoma in the white population has
increased continually and considerably in recent decades. Approximately
77,000 people in the USA and 100,000 people in Europe develop malignant
melanoma each year. Despite the lack of symptoms and a relatively small
size, melanomas can metastasize early in the lymph nodes and other organs.
If diagnosed when there are already distant metastases the five-year
survival rate is approximately 10-20%. Treatments of late stage malignant
melanoma include chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy.

About the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin-Buch
The MDC was formed in 1992 to convert the molecular research results into
practice, for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The
location in the Buch district of northeast Berlin, with its clinics,
research institutes and biotechnology companies provides an excellent
environment for interdisciplinary and patient-oriented cutting edge
research. As a result, in recent years the MDC has developed into an
internationally recognized research institute. Thomson Reuters thus ranks
the MDC as the only German institution in its list of the world's 20 best
institutes in the field of molecular biology and genetics, in 14th place.
The MDC currently employs around 1,588 staff and visiting scientists. The
MDC is 90% funded by the federal government and 10% by the State of Berlin.
There is also third-party funding in the millions. 65 research groups work
in three main research areas (cardiovascular and metabolic diseases,
cancer, nervous system disorders and systems biology).
www.mdc-berlin.de

The Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC)
As a joint facility of the MDC and Charité, the ECRC promotes cooperation
between research scientists and clinical researchers. Here, laboratory
findings are made available to patients as quickly as possible, new
approaches for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular
and metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases are developed
and promptly used on patients.
The ECRC provides an excellent environment for patient-oriented research,
including clinical trials. This includes a growing number of university
clinics that offer specialized advice for patients, a station specifically