With tick-borne diseases on the rise in Massachusetts and across the country, an editorial in The Boston Globe is calling for funding for UMass Medical School scientists to test a possible solution they developed in the fight against Lyme disease.
“Researchers at UMass Medical School in Worcester have identified a human monoclonal antibody that could defend against Lyme disease with one annual dose,” The Boston Globe editorial stated.
Mark Klempner, MD, executive vice chancellor for MassBiologics of UMass Medical School and professor of medicine, told state legislators last year that it could take about $3.25 million to launch a phase 1 clinical trial, the next step in developing a preventive treatment. Unlike a vaccine, Lyme PrEP, a pre-exposure prophylaxis, would use a protein that specifically targets and blocks the Lyme-causing bacteria in the tick after it bites an inoculated host.
“There’s definitely a hunger for a medicine that is preventive,” Dr. Klempner told The Boston Globe.
“MassBiologics seems like the perfect home for an accelerated, collaborative effort to test the safety of Lyme PrEP,” the editorial stated.
Related stories on UMassMedNow:
Mark Klempner talks to Boston 25 News about preventative Lyme disease shot being developed at UMMS
UMMS infectious disease expert presents promising Lyme disease prevention research at State House
WBZ-TV: UMMS researchers developing preventive treatment for Lyme disease
Klempner explains Lyme disease risk in Boston Magazine
MassBiologics at UMMS developing pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease
WGBH-TV’s Greater Boston: Klempner discusses promising research into a seasonal prevention for Lyme
