UMass Chan Medical School has licensed worldwide rights to a long-lasting human monoclonal antibody, designated TNX-4800, that prevents Lyme disease to Chatham, N.J.-based Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.
“Preventing Lyme disease is an urgent public health priority and more than 30 years of clinical experience confirms that monoclonal antibodies can be delivered safely and are effective in preventing infections,” said Mark Klempner, MD, professor of medicine at UMass Chan and leader of the research team that discovered and developed the preventive medicine. “We are delighted to be collaborating with Tonix on the development of this program. Unlike vaccine programs in development, TNX-4800 is a single dose and provides immediate immunity to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.”
Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Lyme, however, is not caused by the tick directly. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi present in the gut of infected ticks. When an infected tick bites someone and begins to feed on their blood, Lyme-causing bacteria can slowly travel from the tick’s gut to its salivary glands and then transfer to the site of the bite.
Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash) and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with FDA-cleared tests. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Currently, the only way to prevent infection is to prevent tick bites by using insect repellent and removing ticks promptly.
