If you have a dog or cat, you’ve likely given your pet a flavored chewable tablet for tick prevention at some point. What if you could take a similar pill to protect yourself from Lyme disease?
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is developing the pill (without the delicious flavoring) for humans that could provide protection against tick-borne diseases for weeks. In February, the Irvine, Calif.-based biotech company released results from a small early-stage trial showing the drug could kill ticks on people 24 hours after taking them, with the effects lasting up to 30 sky.
“We envision something that protects you before a tick bites you,” said Tarsus CEO Bobby Azamian.
Lyme disease is a rapidly growing problem in the United States, with approximately 476,000 people diagnosed and treated each year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number is likely an overestimate because many patients receive treatment after a tick bite even if infection is not confirmed, but it highlights the burden of Lyme disease on the health care system – CDC and Yale University Researchers put that at $1 billion per year.
This disease is caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. In most cases, the tick must be attached for about 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic rash that looks like a bull’s-eye.
There is no vaccine for Lyme disease on the market, and current prevention measures include using repellents such as DEET and permethrin, and wearing closed shoes, long pants, and long-sleeved clothing in tick-infested areas.
“Even though we’ve been told to do tick checks, use DEET, and inject permethrin into our clothes, for years we’ve been Discover rising rates of tick-borne diseases.” Medical scientist who studies Lyme disease.
More effective treatment strategies would be welcome, Owalt said, especially since Lyme disease can sometimes cause serious health problems. Antibiotics are usually effective when given early, but about 5% to 10% of patients may experience symptoms that last for weeks or months. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints and cause arthritis. It can also take root in the heart and nervous system, causing persistent fatigue, numbness, or weakness.
The experimental pill Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is testing is a formulation of Lotililaner, a drug that paralyzes and kills parasites by interfering with the way signals are transmitted between nerve cells. Lotilaner is approved as a veterinary drug under the trade name Credelio for the control of fleas and ticks in dogs and cats.
“Our animals have better options than we do when it comes to preventing ticks,” said Linden Hu, a professor of immunology at Tufts School of Medicine who is leading the tarsi trial. “There are a lot of drugs and vaccines for dogs and cats, but not for us.”