Kick-off for trials of preventive vaccine for dermal leishmaniasis

06 June 2018

The PREV-PKDL consortium prepares to start clinical trials of a candidate vaccine to prevent chronic dermal leishmaniasis in patients treated for visceral leishmaniasis. The kick-off meeting will take place in York (UK) on 6-7 June 2018.

The promising vaccine has been developed by Prof. Paul Kaye and his team at the University of York, United Kingdom. EDCTP invested EUR 8 million in the project (2018-2023) to prevent post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). The project is coordinated by Dr Odile Leroy, Executive Director of the European Vaccine Initiative (Germany).

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to advance the clinical development of a candidate vaccine against a neglected infectious disease that affects people in currently 98 countries.”

Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director

Two phase II clinical trials will be conducted in Sudan to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in patients diagnosed with and treated for visceral leishmaniasis. In parallel, the project partners also plan to conduct research studies in Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and the underlying immune mechanisms.

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