US-based The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) and American Leprosy Missions have commenced a phase 1 clinical trial in humans for leprosy vaccine candidate, LepVax, the first vaccine developed specifically for leprosy, it was reported on Friday.

A promising leprosy vaccine candidate has been developed by scientists at the IDRI in collaboration with national and international collaborators including the National Hansen's Disease Program and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, with financial support from American Leprosy Missions. It is aimed to help treat leprosy and prevent exposed individuals from developing disease and the resulting disabilities.

The product has progressed to Phase one clinical testing in the US, the first stage of safety testing in human volunteers. The clinical trial is concentrated on safety and evaluating the immune response to the vaccine.