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MOLOGEN AG: Presentation of DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis at IMED 2014

DGAP-News: MOLOGEN AG / Key word(s): Study results
MOLOGEN AG: Presentation of DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis at IMED
2014

03.11.2014 / 08:00

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MOLOGEN AG: Presentation of DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis at IMED 2014

Berlin, November 3, 2014 - The LEISHDNAVAX consortium, with the
biotechnology company MOLOGEN AG as a key partner, presented preclinical
data of the leishmaniasis vaccine (MGN1331) in a poster at the
International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance (IMED) in
Vienna. Data on the immunogenicity and prophylactic efficacy of the
DNA-based leishmaniasis vaccine was shown.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that severely affects large
populations worldwide. A vaccine is needed to prevent, control and
eliminate leishmaniasis in endemic regions.

The abstract and more information on LEISHDNAVAX (MGN1331) can be found on:
http://imed.isid.org/.

Abstract details:
Abstract number: 22.149
Title: "Multiantigen T cell epitope-enriched leishmaniasis vaccine"

About leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a cluster of diseases caused by different species of
Leishmania parasites with diverse clinical manifestations, most of them
difficult to treat or even fatal if untreated. On five continents,
leishmaniasis occurs in tropical and subtropical regions and has been
classified by the WHO as a very important Neglected Tropical Disease.
According to WHO (2010), approximately 350 million people are at risk of
contracting leishmaniasis with an estimated number of approximately two
million new cases per year. Recent epidemiological evaluations by WHO
resulted in an estimate of around 40,000 deaths caused by visceral
leishmaniasis annually. Among parasitic diseases, this rate is surpassed
only by malaria. Moreover, each year approximately 1.2 million people
develop cutaneous leishmaniasis.

About MGN1331
The DNA vaccine MGN1331 consists of a combination of MIDGE(R) vectors
encoding different Leishmania antigens. In animal models, promising
efficacy and a very good safety profile of MGN1331 has been shown.

In the field of biotechnology, transport vehicles for conveying nucleic
acids (mostly DNA) are called vectors. The MIDGE(R) technology developed by
MOLOGEN (MIDGE(R) stands for Minimalistic Immunologically Defined Gene
Expression) is also termed a DNA vector. However, unlike other DNA vectors
(plasmids, viruses), the MIDGE(R) vector contains only the information
necessary for the actual effect. Its minimalistic design ensures avoidance
of undesirable components often found in conventional vectors.

MIDGE(R) vectors form the basis for a broad spectrum of modern, DNA-based