"An effective vaccine could put a huge dent in the growing burden of Lyme disease. Populations of the ticks that spread the disease are growing, and nearly a half-million estimated cases of Lyme disease occur in the U.S each year."
"The recent announcement showed the vaccine was capable of preventing Lyme disease infection. But its efficacy was only about 73 to 75 percent. The trial also faced several setbacks, including quality concerns that led Pfizer to drop about half the study population several years ago."
"Still, clinicians are approaching the latest news with cautious optimism. I do think this is great news, says Martin Backer, an infectious disease physician at NYU Langone Health, who was involved in a previous pediatric trial of this vaccine."
Pfizer and Valneva's phase 3 trial for a Lyme disease vaccine reported efficacy of 73 to 75 percent. Nearly half a million Lyme disease cases occur annually in the U.S. The vaccine must overcome past market withdrawal issues. Setbacks included quality concerns and fewer infections than expected in the placebo group. Clinicians express cautious optimism about the results. Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria from black-legged ticks, can lead to severe health issues if untreated.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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