Valneva (a French vaccine manufacturer) and Pfizer Thursday’s follow-up to the phase 2 safety trialThe Lyme disease vaccine developed by the companies had given lasting immunity.
Phase 2 Trial This was completed AprilThe companies then checked the documents six months later. AntibodyLevels of vaccine-assisted children and adults.
Companies found that antibodies levels in the three-shot group were higher than those in the two-shot group.
These antibody levels declined over time but still indicated some protection against Lyme disease. Phase 3 is now underway and the companies have not reported any safety or side effects. Clinical trials.
Lyme disease can be fatal. bacterial illnessSpread by tick bites. The hallmark symptomA rash that looks like a bull’s eye around the bite area. However, symptoms can include FeverA headache, joint pain, and chills.
If it isn’t treated quickly, it can cause carditis – swelling of the heart – or arthritis. It’s possible to suffer from symptoms for long periods of time even after treatment. Lyme disease syndrome after treatment.
Lyme vaccine was taken off the market twenty years ago
There’s already been one US Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for Lyme disease. GSK – then called SmithKline Beecham – made a Lyme vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 1998. Lymerix was a Lyme vaccine that was 75 percent effective in preventing Lyme disease after three shots.
But The timeBecause the disease was considered easily treatable in its early stages, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not recommend the vaccine.
Patients were also reluctant to receive the vaccine as they found it difficult to follow the dose schedule. The vaccine was not approved for use in children due to its inconsistency.
After patients complained of severe side effects, the drug was pulled from the market in 2002. arthritisAnd filed a class action lawsuit.
Although the FDA and CDC didn’t find a pattern in these reactions due to vaccines, this didn’t stop Lymerix. GSK pulled the drug from the marketplace after the sales dropped so much.
Pfizer and Valneva are hopeful that the Lyme vaccine will get a better reception from the public. The companies aim to have FDA approval of the vaccine in 2025, if the positive results from the phase 3 study are confirmed.
Lyme disease is an increasing problem
Since 2002 Lyme disease is a much greater concern. According to the CDC About 30,000 casesAlthough this number is likely lower than the actual case count, the agency claims that it is still a significant increase in the annual reporting. This is in comparison to approximately 24,000 cases. Reported in 2002.
A StudyAccording to data from private insurance, approximately 476,000 Lyme disease patients were treated between 2010-2018.
A study in 2022 estimated that 15% of the world’s populationLyme disease had affected at least one person in their life.
One theoryIncreased Lyme prevalence in America’s Northeast results from the increase of patchy forest, which is responsible for more of a specific type of mouse that’s a great source of Lyme-causing bacteria.
The climate crisis is also increasing the number of disease-carrying ticks. Warmer temperatures can accelerate the tick life cycle and make winters more bearable.
This article was originally published in Business Insider.
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