DGAP-News: MOLOGEN AG is cooperating with Max Delbrück Centrum and Charitéin clinical study on skin cancer
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: MOLOGEN AG / Key word(s): Study
MOLOGEN AG is cooperating with Max Delbrück Centrum and Charitéin
clinical study on skin cancer
28.06.2012 / 11:32
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MOLOGEN AG is cooperating with Max Delbrück Centrum and Charitéin clinical
study on skin cancer
- Preparation for a phase I/II clinical study with MIDGE(R)-based gene
therapy of malignant melanoma
Berlin, June 28, 2012 - MOLOGEN AG and the Experimental and Clinical
Research Center (ECRC) of Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Max
Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Berlin-Buch have finalized a
cooperation agreement. At the initiative and under the aegis of Dr. Peter
M. Schlag, director of the CharitéComprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC) and
Dr. Wolfgang Walther of the ECRC, the safety and tolerance of a
MIDGE(R)-based gene therapy are to be examined in the treatment of
malignant melanoma as part of a clinical study planned at Charité.
The initial objective of the cooperation is to carry out all the necessary
preparations for the clinical study and to submit an appropriate study
application to the relevant authorities and ethics commission. The study
will be performed at the Charitéand directed by Prof. Dr. Schlag and
Private Lecturer Dr. Uwe Trefzer (Skin Cancer Center of the Charité). The
MDC will perform the molecular biological analysis of the data yielded by
the clinical study. MOLOGEN AG will support the partners in preparing the
study application and, as holder of the patent for the underlying MIDGE(R)
platform technology, is responsible for producing the medicinal product
MGN1404 under investigation.
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Peter M. Schlag, CharitéComprehensive Cancer
Center (CCCC) in Berlin: 'I hope for further progress in the treatment of
cancer derived from the innovative therapy that was tested through
preclinical studies in collaboration with Private Lecturer Dr. Walther of
the ECRC and MOLOGEN AG. The cooperation is also further proof of the
extensive know-how and innovative strength of medical research in Berlin,
on the part of both academic institutions and companies located here.'
Private Lecturer Dr. Wolfgang Walther of the ECRC: 'With the MIDGE(R)
vector of MOLOGEN AG there is an excellent vector system available for this
novel gene therapy. At the same time, the conclusion of the cooperation
agreement is the starting signal for the preparatory work that will lead
into a phase I/II clinical study. I look forward to the further
collaboration.'
Private Lecturer Dr. Uwe Trefzer, director of the Skin Cancer Center of the
Charité: 'If melanomas have developed metastases, there is currently no
permanently successful therapy available. I am therefore eagerly and
optimistically looking forward to this form of treatment.
Dr. Matthias Schroff, Chief Executive Officer of MOLOGEN AG, adds: 'The
finalized cooperation agreement is especially worthwhile for us, because
our platform technology, the MIDGE(R) vector, will be clinically used here
for the first time. That is why I am especially glad that the longtime
collaboration with the Max Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (Center
for Molecular Medicine), one of the best German institutes in the field of
molecular biology, has now also led to a cooperation agreement. We have
already been able to show outstanding clinical data this year with our main
products, MGN1703 and MGN1601. Now we also have the opportunity to
clinically investigate another cancer immunotherapy.
MGN1404 - MIDGE(R) vector for TNF-alpha expression
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (abbreviated TNF-alpha) is a signaling
substance (cytokine) of the immune system. Among other things, TNF-alpha
can stimulate cell death and therefore has - in the case of application
into the tumor - a direct antitumoral effect. It also leads to the
sensitization of tumors toward other therapies, such as chemotherapy or
radiation therapy. MGN1404 is a MIDGE(R)-based (non-viral) expression
vector. The needle-free, intratumoral jet injection of MGN1404 conveys the
MIDGE(R) vectors directly into the tumor cells. The expression of TNF-alpha
is triggered there by the MIDGE(R) vectors, and, lastly, cell death in the
tumor cells is induced.
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. Almost 14,000
people develop malignant melanoma in Germany each year, of whom
approximately 8,000 are women and 6,000 are men. The lifetime risk of
developing a melanoma is approximately 1:50 in Germany; in Australia, it is
already 1:20. Middle-aged people between the ages of 45 and 60 are affected
particularly often. Despite the lack of symptoms and a relatively small
size, melanomas can metastasize in the lymph nodes and other organs at an
early stage.
About the Max Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Berlin-Buch
The MDC was founded in 1992 to put the results of molecular research into
practice for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The
location in the Buch district in northeast Berlin, with its clinics,
research institutes, and biotechnology companies, offers an excellent
environment for top-level, interdisciplinary, and patient-oriented
research. As a result, the MDC has developed into an internationally
recognized research institute in recent years. Thomson Reuters ranks the
MDC 14th in its list of the 20 best institutes in the world in the field of
molecular biology and genetics. The MDC is the only German institute on
this list.
Approximately 1,535 employees and guest researchers are currently working
at the MDC. The MDC is 90% financed by the federal government and 10%
financed by the state of Berlin. External funding totaling millions rounds
out the budget. 59 independent research groups are working in three areas
of research focus (cardiovascular and metabolic diseases / cancer systems
biology, diseases of the nervous system).
www.mdc-berlin.de
The Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC)
As a joint establishment of the MDC and Charité, the Experimental and
Clinical Research Center promotes collaboration between scientists
conducting basic research and clinical researchers. Knowledge from the
laboratory is utilized as directly as possible at the bedside, and new
approaches for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular
and metabolic diseases, cancer, and neurological diseases are developed and
used on patients within a short time.
The ECRC offers an excellent environment for patient-oriented research,
including clinical studies. This includes a growing number of university
outpatient clinics that offer specialized advice for patients, a ward
specifically designed for clinical research, a clean-room production
facility for cellular immunotherapy, and access to the most modern
procedures in ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging.
www.charite.de/forschung/forschungszentren/experimental_and_clinical_resea
rch_center_ecrc
CharitéComprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC)
The CCCC's goal is to unify clinical and academic oncology at the Charité,
thereby coordinating diagnosis, therapy, medical and psychological issues
and follow-up care for patients, as well as to find new approaches to
prevention and early diagnosis of disease.
Effective treatment requires a close collaborative effort by specialists
from several different areas of expertise starting from the earliest stages
of the disease. In recognition of this, and in order to further improve
patient care, the Charitéfounded a Comprehensive Care Center in 2008,
establishing one of the first centers in Germany to provide a comprehensive
approach to the treatment of tumors.
Through a collaboration of private doctors and hospitals, we aim to improve
the care of patients suffering from tumors and their chances for cures.
The CCCC networks all Charitésites involved in tumor therapies and related
disciplines in order to ensure holistic, interdisciplinary care of tumor
patients. Through the CCCC, each patient should receive access to the most
current national and international strategies for care and clinical
studies.
The CharitéComprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC) is a Center of Excellence in
Oncology, supported by the Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid). It is a
member of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes and is certified
by the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (German Cancer Society).
About MOLOGEN AG
MOLOGEN AG, a German biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Berlin
specializes in the research and development of innovative medications on
the basis of DNA structures. The activities focus on numerous product
developments which are relevant to the immune system; on the one hand
vaccines against infectious diseases and on the other hand cancer
medications. MOLOGEN AG is globally one of the few biotechnology companies
with well tolerated DNA-based cancer treatment in the clinical development
phase.
The stocks of MOLOGEN AG are listed in the Prime Standard of the German
stock exchange (ISIN DE0006637200).
www.mologen.com
Memberships in associations:
BIO Deutschland e.V. | DECHEMA - Society for chemical technology and
biotechnology e.V. | German industrial association of biotechnology (DIB)
| Association for the Promotion of Science and Humanities in Germany |
Association of German biotechnology companies (VBU) | Association of
researching manufacturers of pharmaceuticals e.V. (VFA) | Association of
the chemical industry e.V. (VCI)
MIDGE(R), dSLIM(R) and MOLOGEN(R) are registered trademarks of MOLOGEN AG.
MOLOGEN AG
PRESS SERVICE:
Prof. Peter W. Huebner
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 38
Fax: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 50
huebner(at)mologen.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Joerg Petrass
Tel: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 13
Fax: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 50
investor(at)mologen.com
External Investor Relations:
Kirchhoff Consult AG
Sebastian Bucher
Tel: +49 - 40 - 60 91 86 - 18
Fax: +49 - 40 - 60 91 86 -16
sebastian.bucher(at)kirchhoff.de
Note about risk for future predictions
Certain information in this report contains forward-looking statements or
the corresponding statements with negation or versions deviating from this
or comparable terminology. These are described as forward-looking
statements. In addition, all of the information given here that refers to
planned or future results of business areas, key financial figures,
developments of the financial situation or other financial figures or
statistical data, is to be understood as such forward-looking statements.
The company points out to investors that they should not rely on these
forward-looking statements as predictions about actual future events. The
company is not obligated and refuses to accept any liability for the
forward-looking statements and has no obligation to update such statements
in order to accurately reflect the current situation.
End of Corporate News
---------------------------------------------------------------------
28.06.2012 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Language: English
Company: MOLOGEN AG
Fabeckstraße 30
14195 Berlin
Germany
Phone: 030 / 841788-0
Fax: 030 / 841788-50
E-mail: info(at)mologen.com
Internet: www.mologen.com
ISIN: DE0006637200
WKN: 663720
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München,
Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------
175778 28.06.2012
Themen in dieser Pressemitteilung:
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 28.06.2012 - 05:32 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 1128623
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Contact person:
Town:
Phone:
Kategorie:
Business News
Anmerkungen:
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 387 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"DGAP-News: MOLOGEN AG is cooperating with Max Delbrück Centrum and Charitéin clinical study on skin cancer
"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
MOLOGEN AG (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
