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Lyme disease vaccine closer than ever, with Finns involved in development
🇫🇮 Finland /Health & Science

Lyme disease vaccine closer than ever, with Finns involved in development

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A new Lyme disease vaccine shows over 70% efficacy in trials, with Finnish research centers involved.
  • The vaccine targets common Lyme bacteria strains in North America and Europe.
  • Previous attempts at a Lyme vaccine faced challenges with market acceptance and efficacy.

A potential vaccine against Lyme disease, developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Valneva, has demonstrated over 70% efficacy in clinical trials, marking a significant step forward in preventing the tick-borne illness. Finnish research centers, including MeVac at Helsinki University Hospital, participated in the study.

This vaccine could be a significant step forward in the prevention of Lyme disease.

— Anu KanteleExpressing optimism about the new Lyme disease vaccine.

Anu Kantele, director of MeVac and a professor of infectious diseases, described the results as promising. The vaccine is designed to target common strains of Lyme bacteria found in both North America and Europe, potentially offering protection in Finland where tick populations are increasing.

The manufacturer voluntarily withdrew the product from the market in 2002. The reason was partly weak sales, but also that the vaccine was not covered by the United States' vaccine injury compensation system, which increased the manufacturer's risk of being targeted by lawsuits.

— Anu KanteleExplaining the reasons for the withdrawal of the earlier LYMErix vaccine.

Previous efforts to bring a Lyme disease vaccine to market, such as the LYMErix vaccine in the late 1990s, ultimately failed due to issues including low demand, practical difficulties, and a lack of inclusion in the U.S. vaccine injury compensation system, which increased the manufacturer's legal risks. LYMErix was withdrawn voluntarily in 2002.

This vaccine may be a significant development in the prevention of Lyme disease.

— Anu KanteleCommenting on the potential impact of the new vaccine.

Kantele noted that the new vaccine's efficacy is based on a four-dose regimen, including a primary series of three doses followed by a booster one year later, similar in principle to the TBE vaccine. While the reported efficacy is encouraging, Kantele stressed the need for transparency regarding all known and unknown aspects of the vaccine's effects and uncertainties. Side effects observed so far have been typical, including injection site soreness, fatigue, and headaches, with trials including participants aged five and older.

The principle is similar to the TBE vaccine, in that protection is built up with a multi-dose primary series and maintained with a booster.

— Anu KanteleDescribing the vaccination schedule for the new Lyme disease vaccine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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