“To our knowledge this is the first novel drug candidate that has been proposed for study in the treatment of chronic Lyme Disease post-infection in some time,”

“To our knowledge this is the first novel drug candidate that has been proposed for study in the treatment of chronic Lyme Disease post-infection in some time,” said a representative of Viral Genetics, that submitted the proposal for its drug candidate, VGV-L, to the FDA. A response is expected in April.

Tests led by Dr. Newell-Rogers, a professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and Scott & White Hospital, and a scientific advisor to Viral Genetics, have been conducted for over two and a half years. The results were submitted this month to the FDA, along with a protocol for a proposed human clinical trial designed under the guidance of a leading Lyme clinician at one of the nation’s top medical centers. Testing to date was conducted by Dr. Newell-Rogers with significant contributions from other clinicians at the University of Colorado, Texas A&M Health Science Center and Scott & White Hospital in Texas.

Prior research had established the insight that certain immune characteristics may contribute to whether a person is susceptible or resistant to the development of chronic inflammation as a result of infection. Dr. Newell-Rogers theory proposes a “targeted” peptide to replace or remove the self-peptides and restore a healthy immune response in patients.

Much of the funding for the pre-clinical studies leading to the FDA filing was provided by Time for Lyme, acting in concert with Richard Gerstner, the ex-IBM Executive VP who saw the potential applicability of Dr. Newell’s work, to Lyme disease.

Time for Lyme has raised over $5 million since its founding in 1998 to fund research on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases at esteemed institutions across the U.S., including the establishment and endowment of Columbia University Medical Center’s Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Research Center.

“Time for Lyme is focused on its clear and single mission of promoting research into Lyme and tick borne diseases,” said Peter Wild, executive director of the organization. “At present there is no recognized treatment for Lyme once it has developed into its chronic, long-term state. We are hopeful that Dr. Newell-Roger’s work will provide the solution that long-term Lyme disease sufferers have been hoping for, for decades.”