$2.8 Million Award Advances Herpes Vaccine Research

While there are no herpes vaccines available in the United States, the government recently issued a substantive financial award to accelerate herpes research.

Massachusetts-based Rational Vaccines (RVx) announced on October 13, 2023, that the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) recently awarded it three grants totaling $2.8 million to help further its research to diagnose, treat, and prevent the spread of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).

These grants are essential since about half the human population harbors a life-long latent HSV infection, a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The first grant is to help develop a new diagnostic test suitable for routine population-based screening. Current screening methods are limited to detecting active infections in people with high viral loads, often making them unreliable.

RVx is developing a novel HSV type-specific test that will provide improved sensitivity and reduce instances of false-negative diagnosis.

The second grant funds a live-attenuated herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) strain, "VC2" to prevent and treat ocular herpes.

A live-attenuated virus is a weakened virus that can multiply within the host to a limited extent and is engineered to be unable to cause any disease.

This is a critical study because HSV-1 can result in irreparable cornea damage and is a significant cause of blindness worldwide.

The third undertaking is developing and manufacturing a prophylactic and therapeutic HSV vaccine that will be essential to curbing the spread of herpes.

Through an exclusive license with Louisiana State University (LSU), RVx is developing a novel immunomodulatory vaccine engineered to help the body recognize and eliminate the HSV without making the person sick.

A 2018 study by Brent Stanfield and colleagues at LSU examined the immune response generated by intramuscular injection of the VC2 vaccine in guinea pigs.

"We have always known how chronically debilitating herpetic diseases can be, especially for marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected. It is very encouraging that the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is supporting our live attenuated approach to herpetic disease treatment and prevention," commented Agustin Fernandez, RVx Chief Executive Officer, in a press release.

"After many decades of failure with recombinant protein subunit-based vaccine approaches, we are convinced that our proprietary limited replication-competent mutants are the only way to defeat this virus."

"Our mission at Rational Vaccines remains the same as it has been since our inception — to rid the world of HSV. This brings us one step closer." 

To advance herpes vaccine research, the U.S. NIH established the Strategic Plan for Herpes Simplex Virus Research for 2023-2028.

Effective prevention of HSV requires a multi-pronged effort building upon advances in HSV research, says the NIH.

Promising HSV prevention strategies must be comprehensively tested in diverse populations and age groups and must be paired with enhanced strategies for diagnosis to target and treat high-risk groups.

This is particularly important for infected pregnant women at high risk for vertical transmission to the child.

This new plan aligns with ongoing national efforts, including the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan.