If you have a dog or cat, chances are you’ve given your pet a flavored chewable tablet for tick prevention at some point. What if you could take a similar pill to protect yourself from getting Lyme disease?
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is developing such a pill for humans—minus the tasty flavoring—that could provide protection against the tick-borne disease for several weeks at a time. In February, the Irvine, California–based biotech company announced results from a small, early-stage trial showing that 24 hours after taking the drug, it can kill ticks on people, with the effects lasting for up to 30 days.
“What we envision is something that would protect you before the tick would even bite you,” says Bobby Azamian, CEO of Tarsus.
Lyme disease is a fast-growing problem in the United States, where approximately 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for it each year, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number is likely an overestimate, because many patients are treated after a tick bite even if an infection isn’t confirmed, but it underscores the burden of Lyme disease on the health care system—which researchers at the CDC and Yale University put at nearly $1 billion per year.
Mine has more flavors, but they only have mint and cinnamon(? Maybe I don’t entirely remember ATM) that they’ll ask adults. Kids, however, are given a choice of flavors like blue raspberry, bubble gum, strawberry (I think) and some other 4th flavor
It wasn’t till I asked about the kids flavors they were like “Nah there’s no difference except in flavors, we just ask adults if they want mint or cinnamon” lol
Mine might have other flavors, I never asked because I’m quite happy with mint. Seeing as that’s the only flavor available for the majority of my life, I’m used to it.
I did try a cinnamon toothpaste once in my 30s. I nearly gagged, it was awful.