Category: 8. Health

  • Data gaps cloud nutrition advice on plant-based dairy alternatives

    Data gaps cloud nutrition advice on plant-based dairy alternatives

    Nutrition professionals significantly influence consumer choices, and recent research looks at how perceptions of plant-based dairy alternatives shape their inclusion in a healthy diet. We speak to the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) to learn about challenges and opportunities in this space.

    The study examined 259 various Spanish nutrition professionals. It shows that they often misunderstand the nutrient value of plant-based dairy alternatives due to their highly variable nutrient profiles, inconsistent fortification levels, and reliance on food-based dietary guidelines.

    Their own habits can shape their advice, and they may exclude children and older adults from consuming plant-based dairy alternatives, the study suggests. 

    Meanwhile, it warns that nutrition professionals overestimating fortification may cause consumers to miss key nutrients. 

    Those who recommend plant-based dairy alternatives believe they are more sustainable and promote a diverse diet, as they are another way of consuming legumes and nuts.

    Misunderstandings amok 

    EUFIC’s senior research manager, Dr. Katerina Palascha, tells Nutrition Insight why some nutrition professionals may misunderstand plant-based milks.

    “Firstly, their nutrient profile is highly variable, as it depends both on the ingredient they are made from (e.g., soy, oats, or coconuts) and the type of product (e.g., drink, yogurt, or cheese), so they cannot be treated as one homogenous group,” she explains.

    “Secondly, their level of fortification can be inconsistent across products and brands. Thirdly, some plant-based dairy alternatives in Spain and Portugal contain a mix of different plant-based sources, further increasing the difficulty of making precise recommendations.”

    Palascha adds that some of these professionals may focus more on foods included in food-based dietary guidelines because there is more guidance about them. 

    The study found that over 70% of professionals want information on fortification, bioavailability, and nutritional composition of plant-based dairy alternatives. Over 60% wanted processing, additives, and environmental impact data.

    The availability bias

    The research notes that health professionals consider plant-based products compatible with a healthy diet and support their fortification. However, as there is no consensus on their nutritional value compared to dairy products, they believe this brings confusion, including among consumers. 

    Palascha explains the availability bias and assures: “If they are professional, they are not likely to give advice that goes against the science. But whatever they are familiar with may come more readily to their minds as a potential option, as it does to everyone.”

    “Both our study and previous studies show that health professionals who consume plant-based dairy alternatives themselves are more likely to recommend these products to their clients.”

    The study found that those who thought PBDA was nutritionally equivalent to dairy recommended it more frequently than those who were uncertain.

    Although 34% of the sample would advise plant-based dairy alternatives to all consumers, the majority of nutritionists would, based on particular demographics, such as adults (52%), those on restricted diets (75%), or those who currently use these products (49%). 

    Other target groups include those with allergies, autoimmune diseases, or digestive problems, or those who value sustainability, and menopausal women. 

    Age-specific nutrition

    Palascha notes that children and older adults need specific nutrients from dairy products, such as protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and iodine. They are also more susceptible to deficiencies in these nutrients.

    “Given that milk and dairy tend to provide more bioavailable sources of these nutrients than plant-based dairy alternatives, it needs to be considered whether making PDBA recommendations for these groups may potentially increase the risk of these deficiencies.”

    The study shows that most nutrition professionals thought plant-based dairy alternatives were most frequently fortified with calcium (92%), vitamin D (85%), and vitamin B12 (61%), but this is an overestimation. 

    According to Palascha, consumers may not be aware that nutrients added to products tend to be less bioavailable than the same nutrient level that is found in food. 

    “This is normally not a problem in a balanced, varied diet, but it can be a problem otherwise. But if consumers think they are absorbing more of a nutrient than they are, they may not seek other sources of the same nutrients, which can lead to a nutrient deficiency.”

    Previous research shows that animal protein helps early life survival, while plant-based protein is more linked to adult longevity and overall life expectancy.

    Question of sustainability

    The study reveals that nutrition professionals are curious to learn more about the environmental impact of plant-based dairy alternatives. This highlights the importance of transparency in informing dietary guidelines and supporting professional recommendations.

    Those who saw plant-based dairy alternatives as more environmentally friendly than dairy and believed they could completely replace dairy when fortified strongly supported their inclusion in the Spanish dietary guidelines. 

    Palascha believes that the decision to use plant-based milk is personal. “Since it is possible to have a nutritious diet that is also environmentally friendly, there is no need to have a trade-off between environmental and personal health.” 

    “Effective fortification of plant-based dairy alternatives presents both a challenge and an opportunity to deliver products that are both nutritionally adequate and environmentally friendly,” she concludes.

    Alpro funded the research, which was carried out independently by EUFIC from February to August 2025.

    In July, the UK called for better plant-based milk fortification. Despite growing consumer interest in these alternatives, the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment concluded that no almond, oat, or soy drink available in the UK was nutritionally equivalent to cow milk as of early 2022.

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  • Patients’ Cancer Care Goals Often at Odds With Treatment – Medscape

    1. Patients’ Cancer Care Goals Often at Odds With Treatment  Medscape
    2. Study finds many doctors disregard wishes of cancer patients  upi.com
    3. Bogda Koczwara on Addressing Discordance Between Cancer Patients’ Preferences and Treatment Goals  Oncodaily
    4. Many Cancer Patients Say Doctors Aren’t Honoring Their Treatment Desires  Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
    5. Discordant Treatment Common in Advanced Cancer  Inside Precision Medicine

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  • Korea’s Neurophet & InRAD to establish global standards for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia data

    Korea’s Neurophet & InRAD to establish global standards for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia data

    Korea’s Neurophet & InRAD to establish global standards for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia data

    September 3, 2025 | Wednesday | News

    Neurophet’s AI-based brain imaging analysis solutions to support global standardisation of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related data

    image credit- shutterstock

    Neurophet, a South Korea-based artificial intelligence (AI) solution startup for brain disorders diagnosis and treatment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Foundation (InRAD) to accelerate global standardisation of Alzheimer’s and dementia-related data.

    Through this agreement, Neurophet and InRAD aim to strengthen their collaboration to help establish globally harmonized standards for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias real-world data. The partnership also seeks to enable the seamless integration of AI-based neuroimaging technologies into the broader real-world data landscape, removing one of the key practical barriers to evidence generation – namely, the lack of coordinated approaches – while acknowledging the wider adoption of these technologies in everyday clinical practice.

    The partnership will focus on key initiatives including:

    • Enhancing clinical workflows involving MRI and PET analysis
    • Collecting and aggregating clinical imaging and quantitative data
    • Validating clinical utility of AI-based analysis solutions
    • Developing joint research and education programmes

    Neurophet’s flagship products — Neurophet AQUA AD, an Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Prescription/Treatment Effect and Side Effect Monitoring Software; and Neurophet SCALE PET, a PET Image Quantitative Analysis Software; and Neurophet AQUA, a Brain MRI Analysis Software — will be available for utilization in this collaboration.

    InRAD is a free at the point-of-use registry that enables the collection of real-world data to further understanding about Alzheimer’s disease, and in the future, other dementias and to support clinical management. The registry is coordinated by the independent International Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Foundation, a health-related not-for-profit entity incorporated in the Netherlands. The registry platform will launch later in 2025, providing a secure, regionally compliant, Azure cloud-based registry platform and governance package.


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  • Scientists discover how to wipe out breast cancer’s hidden cells

    Scientists discover how to wipe out breast cancer’s hidden cells

    A first-of-its-kind, federally funded clinical trial has shown it’s possible to identify breast cancer survivors who are at higher risk of their cancer coming back due to the presence of dormant cancer cells and to effectively treat these cells with repurposed, existing drugs. The research, led by scientists from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine was published today in Nature Medicine.

    While breast cancer survival continues to improve, thanks to advances in detection and treatment, when breast cancer relapses — or returns after initial treatment — it is still incurable. For the 30 percent of women and men who do relapse, the only option is continuous and indefinite treatment which cannot eliminate the cancer completely. Some breast cancers, like triple negative and HER2+, recur within a few years, and others like ER+ can recur decades later. Until now, there has not been a way to identify those breast cancer survivors who harbor the dormant cells that lead to recurrence in real time and to intervene with a treatment that can prevent incurable relapse.

    In a randomized phase II clinical trial with 51 breast cancer survivors, existing drugs were able to clear dormant tumor cells from 80 percent of the study participants. The three-year survival rate without any disease recurrence was above 90 percent in patients who received one drug and 100 percent for patients who received both study drugs.

    “The lingering fear of cancer returning is something that hangs over many breast cancer survivors after they celebrate the end of treatment,” said principal investigator Angela DeMichele, MD, MSCE, FASCO, the Mariann T. and Robert J. MacDonald Professor in Breast Cancer Research. “Right now, we just don’t know when or if someone’s cancer will come back — that’s the problem we set out to solve. Our study shows that preventing recurrence by monitoring and targeting dormant tumor cells is a strategy that holds real promise, and I hope it ignites more research in this area.”

    Seizing a window of opportunity to wipe out cancer while it’s sleeping

    The study builds on previous research that showed how dormant tumor cells continue to lay in wait in some patients after breast cancer treatment. These so-called “sleeper cells,” also referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD), can reactivate years or even decades later. Because they are not “active” cancer cells and can be scattered throughout the body, they do not show up on standard imaging tests that are used to watch for breast cancer recurrence.

    Once the sleeper cells begin to expand and circulate in the bloodstream, it can lead to the spread of metastatic breast cancer. Patients who have MRD are more likely to experience breast cancer recurrence and have decreased overall survival.

    Lewis Chodosh, MD, PhD, chair of Cancer Biology and senior author of the study, previously led research to identify the pathways that allow dormant tumor cells to survive in patients for decades.

    “Our research shows that this sleeper phase represents an opportunity to intervene and eradicate the dormant tumor cells before they have the chance to come back as aggressive, metastatic disease,” Chodosh said. “Surprisingly, we’ve found that certain drugs that don’t work against actively growing cancers can be very effective against these sleeper cells. This tells us that the biology of dormant tumor cells is very different from active cancer cells.”

    In the preclinical part of the latest research publication, Chodosh’s team conducted a series of experiments in mice to better understand the underlying mechanisms. They showed that two different drugs — approved by the FDA to treat other conditions — could effectively clear MRD in mice, resulting in longer survival without cancer recurrence. The drugs target autophagy and mTOR signaling, which the researchers found were key mechanisms to allow the tumor cells to remain dormant.

    Translating science into original clinical trials

    DeMichele’s team first enrolled breast cancer survivors who had completed treatment within the last five years and had clear scans into a screening study that looked for dormant tumor cells in participant’s bone marrow.

    If dormant tumor cells were found, patients were then eligible to enroll in the Phase II CLEVER clinical trial, which randomized patients to receive six cycles of either monotherapy with one of two study drugs, or combination therapy with both drugs. The treatment cleared dormant tumor cells in most patients after six to 12 months. After a median follow-up time of 42 months, only two patients on the study have experienced a cancer recurrence.

    “We want to be able to give patients a better option than ‘wait and see’ after they complete breast cancer treatment,” DeMichele said. “We’re encouraged by these results that we’re on the right track.”

    The team is already enrolling patients in two larger, ongoing studies to confirm and extend the results of the CLEVER study: the Phase II ABBY clinical trial and the Phase II PALAVY clinical trial, available at several cancer centers across the country. Patients interested in learning more about these or other breast cancer clinical trials at Penn Medicine should contact [email protected].

    The research was made possible with funding from the National Cancer Institute (R01CA208273) and Department of Defense (BC160784), with additional support from the V Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, QVC “Shoes on Sale,” Avon Foundation, Raynier Institute & Foundation, and generous philanthropic donations. DeMichele previously reported interim outcomes data from the study at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023.

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  • Pregnant or a new mum? How to cut costs when you’re expecting a baby | Consumer affairs

    Pregnant or a new mum? How to cut costs when you’re expecting a baby | Consumer affairs

    Get free NHS prescriptions

    Pregnant women in England are entitled to free NHS prescriptions during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth, whether they are employed or not. (In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they are free for everyone.) You need a maternity exemption certificate, which you can get from a midwife, doctor or health visitor.

    You are also entitled to free dental treatment during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth in all parts of the UK. You must have a maternity exemption certificate or equivalent.

    This is a digital or paper certificate, and you show it to the pharmacist when picking up prescriptions in England, or the dentist at your appointment.

    “When you’re pregnant or have a new baby, there can be extra costs that add up quickly. That’s why it’s vital to check you are getting all the help you’re entitled to,” says Lilly Aaron, the senior policy manager at the Money and Pensions Service.

    If you have paid for prescriptions while you are covered by the certificate, you may be entitled to a refund.

    Check grants and benefits

    You could be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 under the Sure Start Maternity Grant scheme if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you or your partner are on certain benefits and you are expecting your first baby.

    Kate Marsh, the midwifery manager at Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, says it is important to apply within the time limit. “You need to claim it within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after your baby is born, [and] it doesn’t have to be repaid,” she said.

    She adds: “You’re also eligible for the scheme if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection, or you’ve left Ukraine or Afghanistan to come to the UK because of conflict and upheaval in those countries.”

    There are various grants and benefits for mothers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Photograph: NineLives/Getty Images

    Scotland has a similar scheme called the Pregnancy and Baby Payment. “Anyone eligible – depending on income and benefit entitlement – will receive £767.50 for their first child, and £383.75 for babies born after that,” Marsh says.

    Forty-eight hours after you have registered the birth of your child, you are also entitled to claim child benefit. For the eldest child, you will get £26.05 a week. For the second, where you will meet the two-child cap, you get £17.25.

    However, you may have to pay the high income child benefit charge if you or your partner have an individual income that is over the threshold (more than £60,000 for the 2024-25 tax year).

    Take free vitamins

    Making sure you get the right nutrients is important for your baby’s growth and development. You will get most of the vitamins and minerals you need by eating a healthy, varied diet, but the NHS also advises you take folic acid, iron and vitamin D supplements.

    Some pregnant women are entitled to free vitamins containing folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D under the Healthy Start scheme. “If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and you qualify for the Healthy Start scheme, you can get free folic acid and vitamins C and D from 10 weeks of pregnancy onwards,” Marsh says.

    “However, it’s important to take folic acid and vitamin D even before conception and early in pregnancy, so if you can’t afford to buy them at that stage, ask your GP for help.”

    Marsh says that in Scotland, women are entitled to folic acid and vitamins C and D throughout their pregnancy.

    If you do have to pay for vitamins, you don’t need to buy expensive branded products, she adds. “Supermarket or pharmacy own-brand vitamin D and folic acid are fine.”

    You will need to show your NHS Healthy Start card when you collect your free vitamins.

    Your midwife or GP can provide information about local and national schemes and help you determine your eligibility. Healthy Start vitamins are available to breastfeeding mothers as well.

    Save on maternity clothes

    As your baby bump grows, you are likely to increasingly struggle to fit into all of your old clothes. If you are not keen on the idea of forking out on a brand-new maternity wardrobe, a “closet audit” to identify your loosest and most flowing pieces is a good start.

    Looking to keep costs down? Pregnancy doesn’t have to mean an entirely new wardrobe. Photograph: SrdjanPav/Getty Images

    Another great investment is a waistband extender. They usually cost less than £10 and mean you can carry on wearing your normal clothes for a bit longer.

    If you are keen to keep your normal wardrobe for as long as possible, you could buy some long vest tops, which you can tuck into trousers to stop your belly poking out.

    When you do need some new clothes, asking around or buying secondhand will help save money.

    “Online sites such as Vinted and Facebook Marketplace can be really useful if you’re looking for maternity clothes. You can find good-value bundles from people who know they won’t be needing them again,” Marsh says.

    Calculate your leave

    As a mum-to-be, you are entitled to a year of statutory maternity leave from your employer, no matter how long you have been in your job. However, the rules around statutory maternity pay have some stipulations.

    Your employer has to pay you for up to 39 weeks if you are working for it in the 15th week before your baby is due and have worked there for at least 26 weeks continuously before that, and you need to earn an average of at least £125 a week (before tax).

    Aaron says that the earliest your paid maternity leave can start is the 11th week before your baby is due. “If your baby is born early, your leave starts the day after the birth,” Aaron says.

    In terms of statutory maternity pay, you get 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks. For the next 33 weeks, should you take them, you will be entitled to £187.18 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings – whichever is lower.

    If you do not meet the requirements for maternity pay, you can apply for maternity allowance as soon as you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. If you are employed or have recently stopped working, you will get £187.18 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for up to 39 weeks.

    If you are self-employed, you can get between £27 and £187.18 a week for up to 39 weeks.

    You can use the government’s maternity entitlement calculator to work it out.

    Get priority

    Travelling on public transport while pregnant can be a challenge, and if your bump is small or you are earlier on in your pregnancy, people may feel awkward asking if you need a seat. If you are travelling in London and the south-east, the “baby on board” badge lets people know to offer you a seat or help. You can order one online on the Transport for London website.

    Some shops will also let you go to the front of the line if you are pregnant and struggling. For instance, women on Reddit report that in some Primark stores, you can go to the accessible till if you are pregnant or have a double buggy.

    While stores may not have an official policy, it is a good idea to ask staff if you are finding it hard to stand in line.

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  • Service supports patients with long-term radiotherapy side-effects

    Service supports patients with long-term radiotherapy side-effects

    Annabelle MartinBBC News, Bristol

    NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston The Image shows the hospital building from the outside, the building is located next to a busy road with cars on it. The outside of the building is turquoise. NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston

    The service is based in Bristol and serves patients across the South West

    People who are still living with the long-term effects of radiotherapy are to continue receiving dedicated care.

    The Radiotherapy Late Effects service, launched in 2022, has supported more than 1,000 patients with expert physical and emotional support.

    NHS England in partnership with the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance has recommissioned the service.

    Graham Bloomfield, 59, from Bradley Stoke, said it has been a “huge relief” to speak with people who understand the pain he has a result of cancer treatment he received as a child.

    The service ensures that anyone who has completed radiotherapy as part of their treatment can receive support for their symptoms including difficulty breathing, oral pain and mobility issues.

    Zoe Walker, Therapeutic Radiographer at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, has personally supported more than 400 patients through this service.

    “These patients have been dealing with persistent issues after radiotherapy and this service ensures consistent, specialist care across the South West,” she said.

    NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston The Image shows a black and white picture of a young boy wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt. Other children and woman are gathering in the back of the image. NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston

    Graham Bloomfield, pictured aged 7, is now a software developer

    Graham Bloomfield from Bradley Stoke was diagnosed as a child with a rare form of cancer that originates in the area behind the nose and upper throat.

    He received treatment which cleared the cancer but the side effects stayed with him.

    “Over the years I’ve struggled with a number of physical problems caused by the radiotherapy, including reduced movement in my neck, dental pain, and breathing difficulties,” he explained.

    He continues to receive the “life-changing” support from the service.

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  • Valneva Reports Further Positive Phase 2 Safety and

    Valneva Reports Further Positive Phase 2 Safety and

    • Strong immune response after third yearly booster dose in children and adults
    • Significant anamnestic antibody response across all six serotypes
    • No safety concerns observed in any age group by independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), consistent with previous booster results.

    Saint-Herblain (France), September 3rd, 2025 – Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA) announced positive immunogenicity and safety data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The strong anamnestic immune response and favorable safety profile following a third booster dose were consistent with those reported after receiving previous annual booster doses1,2 further demonstrating compatibility with the anticipated benefits of a yearly vaccination prior to each Lyme season. 

    There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and VLA15 has advanced the furthest in clinical development, with two Phase 3 trials nearing completion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, and 132,000 cases are reported annually in Europe.3,4 Vaccination has been completed in the pivotal Phase 3 study of VLA155, and subject to positive data, Pfizer aims to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2026.

    Juan Carlos Jaramillo M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said, “These latest data further reinforce the potential benefits of booster doses across all evaluated age groups. There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and as the disease continues to expand geographically, it remains a pressing unmet medical need affecting communities across the Northern Hemisphere. Each set of positive results moves us closer to the possibility of making this vaccine available to both adults and children living in Lyme-endemic areas.”

    These latest results from the VLA15-221 Phase 2 study – measured one month after vaccination at month 42 – again demonstrated a significant anamnestic antibody response across all six serotypes covered by the vaccine candidate in pediatric (5 to 11 years of age) and adolescent (12 to 17 years of age) participants, as well as in adults (18 to 65 years of age). A high proportion of participants seroconverted after the third booster dose, yielding seroconversion rates* (SCRs) at 100% (confidence interval 96.7%, 100%) for all outer surface protein A (OspA) serotypes in all age groups, in-line with SCRs after the first and second booster. Geometric Mean Titers at one month post first and second booster (i.e. month 19 vs. month 31) were comparably high.

    The safety and tolerability profile of VLA15 after the third booster dose was similar to the profile observed after the previous booster doses. To date, no safety concerns have been observed by the independent DMC in any treatment or age group.

    Pfizer and Valneva entered into a collaboration agreement in April 2020 for the development and commercialization by Pfizer of VLA15.

    Participants in this Phase 2 study received VLA15 or placebo during the primary vaccination phase in two immunization schedules (month 0-2-6 or month 0-6), followed by yearly vaccinations at months 18, 30 and 42. In August 2022, Pfizer and Valneva initiated the currently ongoing Phase 3 clinical study, Vaccine Against Lyme for Outdoor Recreationists (VALOR) (NCT05477524), to investigate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of VLA15 in participants five years of age and older in highly endemic regions in North America and Europe.6 Dosing of all subjects was recently completed as announced by Pfizer. A second Phase 3 trial (C4601012), aiming to provide further evidence on the safety profile of VLA15 in the pediatric population between 5 and 17 years of age also completed vaccination.

    About VLA15

    There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and VLA15 is the Lyme disease vaccine candidate which has advanced the furthest along the clinical development timeline, with two Phase 3 trials in progress. This investigational multivalent protein subunit vaccine uses an established mechanism of action for a Lyme disease vaccine that targets the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. OspA is a surface protein expressed by the bacteria when present in a tick. Blocking OspA inhibits the bacterium’s ability to leave the tick and infect humans. The vaccine candidate covers the six most prevalent OspA serotypes expressed by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in North America and Europe. 

    About Clinical Study VLA15-221

    VLA15-221 is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study. It is the first clinical study with VLA15 which enrolled a pediatric population (5-17 years old). 560 healthy participants received either VLA15 in two immunization schedules (month 0-2-6 [N=190] or month 0-6 [N=181]) or placebo (month 0-2-6 [N=189]). Vaccine recipients received VLA15 at a dose of 180 µg, which was selected based on data generated in two previous Phase 2 studies. The main safety and immunogenicity readout (primary endpoint) was performed one month after completion of the primary series vaccination schedule. All eligible subjects received yearly booster doses of VLA15 or placebo at Months 18, 30 and 42. Antibody persistence will be followed up to six months post third annual booster.
    VLA15 is tested as an alum-adjuvanted formulation and administered intramuscularly. The study is being conducted at U.S. sites located in areas where Lyme disease is endemic and has enrolled both volunteers with a prior infection with Borrelia burgdorferi as well as Borrelia burgdorferi-naïve volunteers.

    About Lyme Disease

    Lyme disease is a systemic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks.7 It is considered the most common vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere.8,9 While the true incidence of Lyme disease is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that approximately 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated each year and 132,000 cases are reported annually in Europe. Early symptoms of Lyme disease (such as a gradually expanding erythematous rash called erythema migrans or other nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache, mild stiff neck, muscle and joint paints) are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Left untreated, the disease can disseminate and cause more serious chronic complications affecting the skin, joints (arthritis), the heart (carditis) or the nervous system. The medical need for vaccination against Lyme disease is steadily increasing as the geographic footprint of the disease widens.10

    About Valneva SE

    We are a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs. We take a highly specialized and targeted approach, applying our deep expertise across multiple vaccine modalities, focused on providing either first-, best- or only-in-class vaccine solutions.

    We have a strong track record, having advanced multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals, and currently market three proprietary travel vaccines.

    Revenues from our growing commercial business help fuel the continued advancement of our vaccine pipeline. This includes the only Lyme disease vaccine candidate in advanced clinical development, which is partnered with Pfizer, the world’s most clinically advanced tetravalent Shigella vaccine candidate as well as vaccine candidates against the Zika virus and other global public health threats.

    Valneva Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to the progress, timing, results and completion of research, development and clinical trials for product candidates and the timing for submission of such product candidates for regulatory approval. In addition, even if the actual results or developments of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be sustained in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “could,” “should,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “aims,” “targets,” or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, and the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection. Success in preclinical studies or earlier clinical trials may not be indicative of results in future clinical trials. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing this information as of the date of this press release and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Valneva Media and Investor Relations Contacts

    Laëtitia Bachelot-Fontaine
    VP Global Communications & European Investor Relations
    M +33 (0)6 4516 7099
    laetitia.bachelot-fontaine@valneva.com

    Joshua Drumm, Ph.D.
    VP Global Investor Relations
    M +1 917 815 4520
    joshua.drumm@valneva.com

    References


    1 https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-and-pfizer-report-positive-pediatric-and-adolescent-phase-2-booster-results-for-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate/
    2 https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-and-pfizer-report-further-positive-phase-2-booster-results-for-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate/
    3 Davidson, A., Davis, J., Brestrich, G., Moisi, J., Jodar, L., & Stark, J. H. July 2025. Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases. (online ahead of print).
    4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. January 2021. Available at:
    https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html. Accessed: August 2023.
    5 Second-Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call Prepared Remarks August 5, 2025: https://s206.q4cdn.com/795948973/files/doc_financials/2025/q2/Q2-2025-Earnings-Conference-Call-Prepared-Remarks-FINAL.pdf
    6 Pfizer and Valneva Initiate Phase 3 Study of Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate VLA15. August 2022. Available at: https://valneva.com/press-release/pfizer-and-valneva-initiate-phase-3-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/ Accessed: August 2023.
    7 Stanek et al. 2012, The Lancet 379:461–473
    8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. January 2021. Available at:
    https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html Accessed: August 2024.
    9 Kugeler KJ, et al. Estimating the frequency of Lyme disease diagnoses—United States, 2010-2018. 2021. Emergency Infectious Disease. 27(2).
    10 Centers for Disease Control. Understanding Lyme and Other Tickborne Diseases. May 2022. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/communication-resources/press-kit.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/media/lyme-tickborne-diseases-increasing.html Accessed: August 2025.

    • 2025_09_03_VLA15-221_m42_PR_EN_Final

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  • Valneva Reports Further Positive Phase 2 Safety and Immunogenicity Results for Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate

    • Strong immune response after third yearly booster dose in children and adults
    • Significant anamnestic antibody response across all six serotypes
    • No safety concerns observed in any age group by independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), consistent with previous booster results.

    Saint-Herblain (France), September 3rd, 2025 – Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA) announced positive immunogenicity and safety data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The strong anamnestic immune response and favorable safety profile following a third booster dose were consistent with those reported after receiving previous annual booster doses[1],[2] further demonstrating compatibility with the anticipated benefits of a yearly vaccination prior to each Lyme season.

    To access the full release, please click on the PDF below.

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  • Europa Biosite announces exclusive UK & Ireland partnership between Bio X Cell and Cambridge Bioscience

    Europa Biosite announces exclusive UK & Ireland partnership between Bio X Cell and Cambridge Bioscience

    Europa Biosite is pleased to announce that Bio X Cell has appointed Cambridge Bioscience, a proud member of Europa Biosite, as its exclusive distributor for the United Kingdom and Ireland. This strategic partnership ensures that researchers across the UK and Ireland will have streamlined access to the Bio X Cell portfolio which features best-in-class functional monoclonal antibodies, globally recognized for their high quality, purity, and consistency in in vivo, ex vivo, new approach methodologies (NAMs), and other sensitive studies.

    For over four decades, Cambridge Bioscience has been a trusted partner to leading academic institutions and biotech companies across the UK and Ireland. Its collaborations include the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London, and Trinity College Dublin. Cambridge Bioscience brings a long-standing expertise in life science distribution, a commitment to customer-focused support, and a strong track record of helping researchers advance critical biomedical studies, further strengthening and enhance Europa Biosite’s presence in the UK and Ireland.

    We have for many years distributed the innovative and well-documented antibodies of Bio X Cell in Nordics and Switzerland, and I am very pleased in the trust put in us expanding our collaboration into UK and Ireland. Signing of the exclusive distributor contract strengths our partnership and underscores a shared commitment to raising the standard of life science reagents and providing researchers with unparalleled access to quality products and services”.

    Sune Schmolker, CEO, Europa Biosite

    “We are thrilled to partner with Cambridge Bioscience to better serve the UK and Irish scientific communities,” added Christopher Conway, CEO, Bio X Cell. “Bio X Cell’s partnership with Cambridge Bioscience deepens our expertise and commitment to enabling global research with the highest quality functional antibodies. Cambridge Bioscience’s customer-focused philosophy makes them an ideal partner to help us provide even greater support to researchers conducting critical biomedical studies”.

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