Rational Vaccines, a company focused on revolutionizing the treatment and prevention of herpes to eradicate the disease, announced the launch of a clinical trial designed to investigate the disease burden of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in patients with HIV infection. The study, “A 48 Week Observational Study of the Frequency of Symptomatic Herpes Virus I and II in HIV Infected Subjects,” will be led by Jorge E. Rodriguez, MD and conducted at the Global Research Institute in Los Angeles, CA.
People with compromised immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV infection, are impacted by herpes. Infections with HSV-1 and HSV-2 are a common occurrence in patients infected with HIV. Patients may develop herpetic lesions at one or multiple sites including the lips and oropharynx, genitalia, anus, fingers, and skin. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of such outbreaks in an HIV-positive population with recurrent HSV infection.
Kerstin Westritschnig, MD, chief medical officer of Rational Vaccines stated, “HIV patients co-infected with HSV are acutely suffering. HSV symptoms can be more severe and recur more frequently in HIV positive individuals than in people who are HIV negative. In addition, HSV-2 fuels the HIV epidemic by increasing the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection three-fold1. We look forward to the outcome of this observational study that aims to investigate the disease burden of HSV in HIV patients. These findings will be informative as we advance novel therapeutic and preventive HSV vaccine candidates, which could contribute as additional tools in fighting against the spread of HIV.”
The herpes simplex virus (HSV), commonly referred to as herpes, is categorized into two types: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 is the primary cause of oral herpes but can also cause genital herpes. HSV-2 is the primary cause of genital herpes.