It’s still a long way from FDA approval, but a new vaccine to prevent the tick-borne Lyme Disease is in the works.
According to a study published on Nov. 19, a group of researchers has made headway on preventing the spread of the bacteria among mice.
“There is currently no Lyme borreliosis vaccine available for humans, although it has been shown that the disease can be prevented by immunization with an OspA-based vaccine,” the report begins, referencing a type of protein used in the vaccination.
This is not the first Lyme Disease vaccine. Another vaccine called LYMErix was available from 1998 to 2002, but pulled from the market due to adverse autoimmune effects.
The mechanism of the new vaccine is complicated, but with an estimated 300,000 cases annually in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an effective vaccine could have a major impact, particularly among those who spend a lot of time in the outdoors.
“…the finding that as little as 15 ng LB-vaccine protected mice against infection when challenged via the natural route, holds promise for further development including the assessment of vaccine safety and efficacy studies in humans,” the report states.
Lyme Disease is currently treated with antibiotics, which are generally effective if the disease is caught early. Lyme Disease, however, can be complicated without early treatment and can present with vague symptoms that are easily ignored or misdiagnosed.
