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Lyme disease vaccine: Eradicating Lyme disease as it grows like wildfire

Cases of Lyme disease are growing annually as the warming climate allows disease-carrying ticks to travel beyond their normal habitats.

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Quantumrun Foresight
June 9, 2022

Insight summary

The fight against Lyme disease is entering a pivotal phase with a renewed focus on revisiting past vaccines and the development of new ones using trusted mRNA technology. This approach aims to not only bring relief to hundreds of thousands suffering from the disease but also to foster advancements in prevention strategies. The ripple effect of these developments could reshape various aspects of society, including shifts in demographics, educational focus, and labor market demands.

Lyme disease context

In the US, Lyme disease is the most frequent vector-borne illness. Borrelia burgdorferi and, in rare cases, Borrelia mayonii, are the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Humans can become infected after being bitten by infected black-legged ticks. Approximately 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the Center for Disease Control in the US each year, which is roughly three times the number of cases recorded in the late 1990s. Even more concerning is that these reports only reflect a small portion of the actual number of cases circulating in the US due to a lack of knowledge and awareness about the disease.

Antibiotics, usually doxycycline, are the primary treatment for Lyme disease. The treatment should be administered within a few days following the infection, although this is difficult to do. The bacteria-carrying ticks are about the size of a poppy seed. Their bites are painless. Not everyone develops the characteristic bulls-eye rash at the edge of the bite site to indicate that a person may be at risk from the disease. In addition, many people are not aware they have been affected by Lyme disease until they have joint pain, fever, body pains, chills, heart palpitations, myocarditis, and mental fog. As of 2021, antibiotics may be unable to treat an infected person.

In the 1990s, two vaccinations were created and tested to prevent Lyme disease. Unfortunately, despite evidence of its safety and efficacy in clinical trials and initial post-marketing surveillance, one vaccination was pulled before the regulatory assessment. The other, LYMErix, was reportedly approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Yet, prior to its eventual production stoppage, uncertainty remained as the vaccine was thought to be a luxury affordable only to high-income people.

Disruptive impact

New attempts to eradicate Lyme disease are under investigation as reported cases rise. Researchers and scientists currently engaged in creating a Lyme disease vaccine may require institutional support from health companies and venture capitalists so that their research can be advanced sufficiently to produce a viable prototype and, if proven effective, could be mass-produced.

With ticks the primary spreaders of Lyme disease, acaricides could be sprayed in residential areas to stop people from becoming infected. However, if this method is used continuously, ticks may develop resistance to acaricides, making it more difficult to eliminate them while protecting the environment. Other treatments may be developed to treat Lyme disease in addition to a vaccine, and health authorities can publicize campaigns that seek to educate the public about the disease, its symptoms, and how it can be contracted.

By the mid-2020s, there is an anticipation that the medical community will revisit vaccines that were previously developed to combat Lyme disease. This reassessment will be coupled with the production of new vaccines using the mRNA technology, which gained prominence and trust during the efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this dual approach is to foster advancements in Lyme disease prevention, potentially offering more effective solutions and protection.

Implications of Lyme disease vaccines

Wider implications of Lyme disease vaccines and treatments becoming publicly available include:

New, optional, government-funded vaccination campaigns being promoted in North American provinces and states where Lyme disease-carrying ticks are present, potentially leading to a more informed public and a decrease in the number of Lyme disease cases.

The gradual reduction in the use of pesticides that target ticks and other insects, thereby reducing unintended environmental damage to treated wildlife areas, which could foster a rebound in the populations of non-target species and enhance biodiversity in various ecosystems.

Hundreds of thousands of Lyme disease sufferers finally gaining relief from their symptoms, enabling them to lead more productive lives.

Healthcare companies leveraging the future success of their Lyme disease vaccines to invest in the development of new treatments for niche diseases, leading to a broader range of medical solutions and therapies available to the public.

A potential shift in the focus of medical research towards mRNA technology, which could foster the development of treatments for a variety of ailments, changing the trajectory of medical research and development for years to come.

A demographic shift in areas heavily affected by Lyme disease, as improved health outcomes could make these regions more attractive to new residents, influencing housing markets and community dynamics.

A potential increase in educational programs focused on Lyme disease prevention in schools, fostering a generation that is more knowledgeable and proactive about tick-borne diseases.

A possible shift in labor market demands, with a growing need for professionals skilled in the production and distribution of mRNA vaccines, creating new job opportunities and fostering economic growth in the biotechnology sector.

New models centered around the distribution and administration of Lyme disease vaccines, which could foster partnerships with healthcare facilities and create opportunities for entrepreneurship in the healthcare sector.