Lyme Disease Drug Nears Human Trials

A revolutionary drug that could prevent Lyme disease — the tick-spread illness whose victims have included Alec Baldwin, Kris Kristofferson and Avril Lavigne — may be ready for human trials next year.

Researchers from MassBiologics, a nonprofit division of University of Massachusetts Medical School which makes vaccines and biologics, say the drug, Lyme PrEP, has already worked wonders in mice.

Dr. Mark Klempner, executive vice chancellor of MassBiologics, told the Massachusetts House of Representatives that the drug would administered by injection once annually before the start of tick season in April or May, The Boston Herald reports.

He said the drug consists of an antibody that binds to and kills the bacteria transmitted from the gut of infected ticks that cause Lyme disease.

Lyme disease can result in joint pain, depression, memory loss, anxiety, severe headaches, neck stiffness and heart palpitations.

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