Good news from the Viennese biotech company Valneva: their vaccine against Lyme disease, VLA15, showed a strong effect and good tolerability. It received the recommendation for EU approval. Three partial vaccinations could reliably protect against Lyme disease.
Studies of the new vaccine against Lyme disease show that it is safe and well tolerated. It is intended to treat the six most common types of ticks in North America and Europe. VLA15 is currently the only Lyme disease vaccine in clinical development.
Good vaccination tolerance
A total of 800 subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 participated in the two clinical trials conducted to date. In the first study, participants received three doses of vaccine on the first day, after one and two months.
In the second study, injections were given on the first day, after two and after six months. The best immune response was observed when three doses were given six months apart and the vaccine was well tolerated overall.
Currently phase III study
Pfizer is currently conducting a Phase III trial of VLA15, involving approximately 6,000 subjects in six countries, to further investigate the vaccine’s effectiveness and tolerability. However, it will take some time for the results to arrive.
600,000 diseases every year
The development of vaccines against Lyme disease has been a major challenge for decades. About 476,000 people in the US develop Lyme disease each year, and in Europe there are about 130,000 patients. Children and the elderly who spend a lot of time in nature are particularly affected.
Possible breakthrough
The new vaccine against Lyme disease from Valneva and Pfizer indirectly vaccinates the ticks. The antibody response against the OspA protein caused by the vaccination blocks this, so that the Borrelia cannot leave the tick during the bite and therefore cannot transmit infection to humans. Valneva and Pfizer could make a major breakthrough in the prevention of Lyme disease with VLA15, filling a long-sought gap in vaccine development.
Source: Krone
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