Lyme disease vaccine

Lyme disease vaccine is a type of vaccine specifically designed to prevent Lyme disease, a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.

History

The first Lyme disease vaccine, known as LYMErix, was developed by SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. However, it was withdrawn from the market in 2002 due to concerns about its safety and efficacy.

Development

The development of a Lyme disease vaccine involves several stages, including preclinical testing, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. The process is overseen by various regulatory bodies, such as the FDA in the United States and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Europe.

Current vaccines

As of 2021, there are no Lyme disease vaccines approved for use in humans. However, several vaccines are in development. These include VLA15, developed by Valneva SE, and Lyme PrEP, developed by MassBiologics.

Veterinary use

Several Lyme disease vaccines are available for use in dogs, including Nobivac Lyme, Vanguard crLyme, and Duramune Lyme. These vaccines are typically administered annually to dogs living in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.

See also

• Tick-borne disease
• Vaccine development
• Public health