Pfizer, Valneva Seek Approval for 75% Effective Lyme Vaccine as U.S. Tick Cases Rise
Updated
Updated · Daily Kos · Jun 28
Pfizer, Valneva Seek Approval for 75% Effective Lyme Vaccine as U.S. Tick Cases Rise
3 articles · Updated · Daily Kos · Jun 28
Summary
Pfizer and Valneva said they plan to seek regulatory approval for a four-dose Lyme disease vaccine after trials showed about 75% effectiveness in reducing cases.
The candidate technically missed one trial bar because too few participants contracted Lyme, but the companies still said the data support a filing; Pfizer gave no update on timing in June.
CDC data show U.S. emergency-room visits for tick bites hit their highest level for this time of year since 2017 after an early, strong tick season, with the Northeast and Midwest hardest hit.
About 31 million Americans are bitten by ticks each year, and climate change is expanding tick habitat, raising exposure to Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses including Powassan virus.