Lyme disease primary prevention

Vaccination
A vaccine, called Lymerix, against a North American strain of the spirochetal bacteria was available from 1998 to 2002. It was produced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and was based on the outer surface protein A (Osp-A) of Borrelia. Osp-A causes the human immune system to create antibodies that attack that protein. When taking it off the market, GSK cited poor sales, need for frequent boosters, the high price of the vaccine, and exclusion of children. Some people believe that the actual reason was that the vaccine was neither safe nor effective. A group of patients who took Lymerix developed arthritis, muscle pain and other troubling symptoms after vaccination. Class-action litigation against GSK followed. Cassidy v. SmithKline Beecham, No. 99-10423 (Ct. Common Pleas, PA state court) (common settlement case).

It was later learned that patients with the genetic allele HLA-DR4 were susceptible to T-cell cross-reactivity between epitopes of OspA and lymphocyte function-associated antigen in these patients causing an autoimmune reaction.

New vaccines are being researched using outer surface protein C (Osp-C) and glycolipoprotein as methods of immunization.