As global efforts focus on COVID-19 vaccines, Nantes-based Valneva is making strides in developing a Lyme disease vaccine, with promising results from ongoing trials.
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, spreads through bites from ticks infected with Spirochaetales bacteria. Not all ticks carry the pathogen, and many infections are asymptomatic. However, when symptoms appear, they can be severe, including persistent joint pain, partial limb paralysis, and even cardiac complications.
Cases are surging annually, linked to milder winters. Recent data shows about 250,000 cases yearly in Europe and 300,000 in the United States.
The pressing need for a vaccine has driven a decade of research at Valneva in Nantes. As reported by France 3 Régions on July 29, 2020, the company anticipates market availability by 2025. Animal studies are complete, and human trials are now in Phase 2, involving 800 participants across Europe and the U.S. to account for regional bacterial variations.
The next step, Phase 3, will expand to 16,000 people for broader efficacy data.
In the meantime, experts urge preventive steps: wear hats and repellents on walks, and check high-risk areas like armpits, scalp, ears, and knee folds for ticks post-outing.
