Tonix Pharmaceuticals Secures Global Rights for Promising Lyme Disease Vaccine

In a significant strategic move, Tonix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TNXP) has announced the acquisition of exclusive global rights to a novel Lyme disease vaccine candidate, TNX-801, from Columbia University. This agreement positions Tonix at the forefront of the battle against Lyme disease, a rapidly expanding public health concern.

TNX-801 is a live attenuated vaccine, developed by researchers at Columbia University, and is based on a modified strain of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease.

Pre-clinical studies in animal models have demonstrated its remarkable ability to induce protective immunity, offering a beacon of hope for a disease that currently lacks an FDA-approved human vaccine.

Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, has seen a steady increase in incidence across the Northern Hemisphere, impacting hundreds of thousands annually.

The absence of an effective preventative vaccine for humans underscores the urgent need for new solutions. Tonix's entry into this space with TNX-801, which is distinct from their other infectious disease vaccine candidate TNX-1800 (for COVID-19), marks a pivotal step towards addressing this critical unmet medical need.

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Seth Lederman, CEO of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting the vaccine's potential to diversify the company's infectious disease pipeline and broaden its focus beyond central nervous system disorders. He emphasized the groundbreaking nature of TNX-801, noting its potential to prevent not only Lyme disease but also other borrelial infections, given its broad-spectrum immunity observed in animal studies.

The partnership with Columbia University, a renowned institution in infectious disease research, further strengthens the credibility and potential of TNX-801.

Dr. Brian Fallon, Director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, praised Tonix's commitment to advancing the vaccine, recognizing the immense impact it could have on public health.

Tonix is now actively planning to initiate Phase 1 human clinical trials for TNX-801.

This development comes at a crucial time, as global health organizations continue to grapple with vector-borne diseases. The successful development of TNX-801 could offer a robust and long-lasting solution, significantly reducing the burden of Lyme disease on communities worldwide and marking a triumph in preventative medicine.