Companies

Valneva and Pfizer Announce Promising Lyme Disease Vaccine Results

Published September 4, 2024

Valneva SE VALN and Pfizer Inc. PFE have jointly announced encouraging results from their joint venture in developing a Lyme disease vaccine candidate, known as VLA15-221. After administering a second booster dose at month 31, the vaccine candidate has shown to elicit a robust immune response in both pediatric and adult populations. The findings are particularly noteworthy as they demonstrate a significant anamnestic antibody response against all six serotypes, which are associated with Lyme disease, and are in alignment with earlier studies.

Understanding VLA15-221

VLA15-221 is a vaccine candidate that has been developed specifically to combat Lyme disease, an infectious disease spread by ticks. Valneva SE, with its strong focus on developing vaccines for unaddressed infectious diseases, has brought its expertise in the vaccine domain to this project. VALN, headquartered in France, has joined forces with Pfizer Inc., an American pharmaceutical giant well-known for its extensive work in various therapeutic areas including vaccines. PFE's role in the collaboration leverages its extensive resources and global presence to support the development and potential commercialization of the vaccine.

Phase 2 Study Outcomes

The Phase 2 booster study outcomes are promising, showing a strong immune response across participants of diverse age groups. The presence of an anamnestic response signifies that the vaccine can potentially induce memory recall of immune cells, which is pivotal for providing long-term protection against the disease. These results are a positive step forward in ensuring the vaccine’s effectiveness and could be instrumental in preventing Lyme disease, which affects a large number of individuals worldwide.

Impact on Public Health and Investment

The development of VLA15-221 could have a significant impact on public health by offering protection against Lyme disease, a condition that currently has no approved vaccines on the market. The collaboration between VALN and PFE could also serve as a model for future partnerships in vaccine development. From an investment perspective, these positive developments could be of great interest to investors considering the sizable market demand for an effective Lyme disease vaccine.

Valneva, Pfizer, Vaccine, LymeDisease, Phase2, Immunology, Healthcare, Biotech