A few months ago we reported on a novel drug that might be an effective treatment or effective cure for herpes, a virus carried by the majority of adults. The drug was Bavituximab, a special protein that aids the immune system in recognising and treating virus-carrying cells.
In animals the drug has been demonstrated to remove viruses from the body. The lead researcher, Dr Thorpe, is now running clinical trials on Bavituximab’s effectiveness at treating Hepatitis C and HIV.
Although herpes studies have not begun yet, Bavituximab could be effective in treating …

Herpesisnormal is campaigning for better awareness and understanding of herpes. Despite the fact that herpes is carried by most people, harmlessly and invisibly, there is still enormous fear and misunderstanding surrounding the condition. Many people think herpes is rare, but in fact the symptoms are rare, the virus is common.
Do your part to spread the word, print out these designs and stick them wherever you think they might be useful. Bathroom stalls, club walls, lamp-posts and notice boards.
To print out the stickers, right click the images below, copy them in …

Vical are reported to be making progress with their immunotherapeutic vaccine. An immunotherapeutic vaccine is one which provides immunity for those who do not carry herpes, as well as treatment for the majority of the population who already do.
One of the investigators, Dr David Koelle said, “We are encouraged that the CD8 T-cell responses observed in mice after DNA vaccination matched those observed after natural HSV-2 infection, suggesting that the appropriate tegument protein epitopes together with surface glycoproteins may provide interventional vaccine opportunities.”
“We believe these responses may be important in …

Meet The Scientist has a fascinating interview with David Knipe of Harvard University. Knipe is developing a vaccine against HSV-2.
Knipe discusses the challenges that researchers have faced in developing a vaccine against the virus, and explains why his new vaccine may be an answer. Knipe’s vaccine has been shown to protect animals who are yet to be exposed to the virus, and also reduce symptomatic disease in those who are already carrying the virus. Acambis are now developing the vaccine for clinical trials in humans.
Knipe also talks about the …

Some herpes carriers will be familiar with drugs like acyclovir and Valtrex. Both are antiviral drugs based on the same chemical. Both are used to control herpes. But it may surprise you to learn the basic ingredients of acyclovir-based antivirals have remained unchanged for more than twenty years, and in that time no commercially available drug has significantly improved on the original formula designed by Nobel-prize-winning biochemist Gertrude B. Elion.
Although acyclovir is an impressive drug with few side-effects, it is far from perfect. Carriers can still transmit herpes while taking …