Leprosy Vaccine
American Leprosy Missions is committed to bringing an END to leprosy by developing a leprosy vaccine that will stop this terrible disease before it even starts.
In 2002, American Leprosy Missions began a partnership with the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), now the Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI), to develop a vaccine for leprosy.
The following decades and more than $6 million investment have resulted in LepVax: a vaccine that finished Phase 1a clinical safety trials in healthy human volunteers and is headed into Phase 1b among people most at risk.
You have the exciting opportunity to partner with us to help end leprosy and make a lasting difference for millions of people around the world!
Why is a leprosy vaccine needed?
- This ancient disease is still disabling and isolating people.
- Every TWO MINUTES someone is diagnosed with leprosy.
- More than FOUR MILLION people in the world suffer from leprosy-related disabilities.
- An effective vaccine will limit infection, prevent disease and reduce transmission.
- A vaccine is the only way to end this terrible disease.
Why now?
- LepVax is the first leprosy-specific vaccine to go through Phase I clinical trials.
- We believe this vaccine will be an exciting new way to STOP the transmission of leprosy and the only way to PROTECT people from the disease long term.
- What’s more, the vaccine may protect against nerve damage, the most serious complication of leprosy.
- The vaccine has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Progress and Next Steps
August 2017: Approved by Food and Drug Administration
October 2017: Started Phase 1a clinical trial
August 2019: Completed Phase 1a clinical trial
2020–2021: COVID-19 delay
2022-2024: Regulatory submissions and approval
2025-2027: Two-year Phase 1b and Phase 2 clinical trials in Brazil
Read more about the upcoming clinical trials.
Leprosy vaccine in the news
- WHO, April 15, 2021, Towards Zero Leprosy: Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030
- Nature, March 28, 2018 – LepVax, a defined subunit vaccine that provides effective pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis of M. leprae infection
- Markets Insider, October 12, 2017 – Promising New Leprosy Vaccine Moves into Human Trials
- Wisconsin State Journal, October 12, 2017 – Covance site of first human study of vaccine for leprosy
Join us – Together we can help end leprosy
By God’s grace and with your partnership, a vaccine will spare children like Marc Jun the devastation and heartbreak of leprosy.
