Tarsus Demonstrates Lotilaner’s Potential In Preventing Lyme Disease

Already on the market with a topical formulation of lotilaner for Demodex blepharitis, Xdemvy, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc. is now pursuing a “pipeline-in-a-pill” strategy and developing the one-time veterinary antiparasitic agent in various formulations for Lyme disease, rosacea and meibomian gland dysfunction. On 22 February, the Irvine, CA-based company unveiled Phase IIa data showing strong tick-killing capability in human volunteers that it believes could position lotilaner as an on-demand prophylaxis for people at moderate-to-high risk for contracting Lyme disease.

Tarsus obtained US Food and Drug Administration approval of Xdemvy, which inhibits parasite-specific GABA-Cl channels, in an eyedrop formulation last July for Demodex blepharitis, an ophthalmic disease caused by Demodex mites. (Also see "Tarsus Targets Initial Small Segment Of Blepharitis Population With Xdemvy Approval" - Scrip, 25 July, 2023