Therapeutic vaccine's safety shown in clinical evaluation.

2002 NOV 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A clinical team in Mexico evaluating the AuRx therapeutic vaccine for genital herpes has published the initial results of a safety evaluation for the lowest dose in a phase I/II trial for treatment of genital herpes in the journal Cutis.

There were no treatment related adverse events in the trial and the side effects were similar to that of placebo.

Dr. Gerardo Casanova, the lead investigator said, "Of most importance is that we now potentially have available a therapeutic vaccine that will avoid many complications for the patients, and in particular the serious perinatal risks."

In the first finding of its kind in the history of the treatment of genital herpes, the AuRx therapeutic vaccine reduced the number of episodes threefold (p

A reduced severity of the herpetic episodes in vaccinated patients was observed as lesions were 4.8 times more prevalent in untreated patients, pain was 2.9 times more prevalent in untreated patients, and itching was 3.7 times more prevalent in untreated patients, according to the study results.

The trial continues by tracking for clinical outbreaks over a 2-year period. AuRx plans to run additional studies in larger groups with higher dose levels and additional vaccinations. In guinea pigs that were first infected with genital herpes and then given the same dose schedule used in the human clinical trial, 70% of ...