New Drug Could Treat Herpes Simplex-1 Virus More Effectively Than Ever

A potentially groundbreaking new treatment for herpes could be nigh, according to a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The study, which is detailed in the journal Science Translational Medicine, reports that researchers have discovered that a drug molecule known as BX795 is effective in temporarily clearing the herpes virus located in the cornea. Authors of the study are also hopeful that it could prove successful in treating other forms of the virus, such as oral and genital herpes, as well as other viruses like HIV.

The authors say this is especially promising for those who have developed a resistance to other currently available drugs that treat HSV-1. The way it works is different from available medicines in that it doesn't target the infection itself but rather targets the host cells to help them clear the virus. "We have needed alternative drugs that work on new targets for a very long time, because patients who develop resistance" to existing drugs have few effective treatment options, study author Deepak Shukla, the Marion Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology and professor of microbiology and immunology at the UIC College of Medicine, said in a press release.

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As the drug targets a common pathway that many viruses use to replicate inside the cell, Shukla added that it could also act as a "new kind of broad-spectrum antiviral," meaning it could be used to treat a wide range of viruses including HSV-2 (which primarily affects the genitals) and HIV. However, he notes that they have not yet tested BX795 on viruses other than HSV-1.

BX795 proved successful in temporarily clearing the infection in cultured human corneal cells, in donated human corneas, and in the corneas of mice infected with the virus, according to the study. Interestingly, the authors say their findings were unexpected because BX795 is commonly known as an inhibitor of an enzyme called TBK1, which, when suppressed in cells, actually promotes infection. When they added a higher concentration of BX795 to the cultured human corneal cells infected with the virus, though, they found that the infection actually cleared. What's more, the outcome was the same in intact human corneas, as well as in mice's eyes infected with HSV-1.

They also discovered that quite a low concentration of BX795 is needed to clear the infection — much lower than the concentration required in other similar drugs. Additionally, they found that the drug only worked in cells infected with the HSV-1 virus, meaning they found no negative side effects in cells not infected with the virus.

For now, researchers are hoping that the study can move to a clinical trial soon, as they expect it has great potential in treating HSV-1 and are hopeful it will be successful in treating other forms as well. Allure reached out to the authors of the study for further information and will update this piece as we learn more.

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