The development of effective vaccines and therapies for herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains a critical goal in the field of infectious diseases. Our company is at the forefront of these efforts, offering a comprehensive suite of services to support the advancement of new vaccines and therapeutics.
Introduction to Herpes Simplex
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family, characterized as an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus. There are two primary types of HSV: HSV-1, commonly associated with oral herpes, and HSV-2, primarily linked to genital herpes. These viruses can establish lifelong latency in the host's nervous system, specifically within the trigeminal ganglia for HSV-1 and the sacral ganglia for HSV-2. Reactivation can occur, leading to recurrent lesions that significantly impact the quality of life due to physical discomfort and social stigma. Epidemiological studies indicate that a substantial portion of the global population harbors HSV, with a notable prevalence in sexually active adults for HSV-2.
Fig.1 The structure of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) virion. (Zhu S., et al., 2021)
Vaccine Development for Herpes Simplex
The quest for an effective HSV vaccine has been ongoing for decades, with various candidates under investigation. Recent advancements in immunotherapy and genetic engineering have revitalized vaccine development efforts. A notable example is the therapeutic vaccine GEN-003, which targets HSV-2 and has shown promise in reducing viral shedding and lesion frequency in Phase 2 clinical trials. This vaccine focuses on eliciting a robust T-cell response, which is crucial for controlling viral reactivation.
Another noteworthy candidate is the HerpV vaccine, which has demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in early-stage trials. The vaccine aims to boost the immune response against HSV-2 by targeting specific viral antigens. These case studies exemplify the potential for therapeutic vaccines to not only alleviate symptoms but also reduce transmission rates among affected populations.
Table 1 Vaccine Candidates of herpes simplex virus (HSV). (Johnston C., et al., 2016)
| Candidate name/identifier |
Pharmaceutical developer |
Platform/antigens |
Status |
| GEN-003 |
Genocea |
Subunit vaccine: gD2/ICP4 with Matrix M2 adjuvant |
Phase II |
| HerpV |
Agenus |
32 35-mer peptides, complexed with HSP, QS-21 adjuvant |
Phase II |
| Codon optimized polynucleotide vaccine |
Admedus |
DNA vaccine: gD2 codon optimized/ubiquitin-tagged |
Phase II |
| VCL-HB01/HM01 |
Vical |
DNA vaccine: gD2+/−UL46/Vaxfectin |
Phase II |
| HSV529 |
Sanofi |
Replication-defective HSV-2 with deletions of UL5 and UL29 |
Phase I |
| gD2/gC2/gE2 |
- |
Subunit vaccine: gD2/gC2/gE2 |
Pre-clinical |
| HSV-2 0ΔNLS |
- |
Live, attenuated replication-competent HSV-2 with deletion of ICP0 |
Pre-clinical |
| HF10 |
- |
Live, attenuated replication-competent HSV-1 mutated for UL43, UL49.5, UL55, UL56, LAT |
Pre-clinical |
| ΔgD2 |
- |
Live, attenuated HSV-2 deleted in gD2 |
Pre-clinical |
| AD472 |
- |
HSV-2 mutated for g34.5, UL43.5, UL55-56, US10, US11, US12 |
Pre-clinical |
| CJ2-gD2 |
- |
Non-replicating gD2 dominant neg HSV-2 |
Pre-clinical |
| Prime-pull strategy |
- |
"Prime" with live attenuated HSV-2 followed by "pull" with topical intravaginal CXCL9/CXCL10 chemokine |
Pre-clinical |
| Inactivated HSV-2 in MPL/alum |
- |
Formalin inactivated HSV-2 |
Pre-clinical |
| HSV-1 glycoprotein B lentiviral vector |
- |
Lentiviral vector expressing gB1 |
Pre-clinical |
| gB1s-NISV |
- |
Intranasal non-ionic surfactant vesicles containing recombinant HSV-1 gB |
Pre-clinical |
Therapeutics Development for Herpes Simplex
Therapeutic approaches for HSV have primarily focused on nucleoside analogs, which inhibit viral replication. However, the development of resistance and the need for more effective therapeutics have led to the exploration of new drug classes.
Drugs such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are the standard therapeutics for HSV infections. They work by being phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase, leading to the inhibition of viral DNA polymerase.
Helicase-Primase Inhibitors
Amenamevir and pritelivir are examples of this new class of drugs that target the viral helicase-primase complex, essential for DNA replication. They have shown high potency in reducing viral shedding in clinical trials.
Our Services
At our company, we are at the forefront of Herpes Simplex vaccine and therapy development services. Our team of experts is committed to advancing innovative solutions to combat HSV through rigorous research and development. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including vaccine formulation and preclinical testing.
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Disease Models
- Ocular HSV-1 Infection Models
- Oral HSV-1 Infection Models
- Intranasal HSV-1 and HSV-2 Infection Models
- Cutaneous and Subcutaneous HSV-1 Infection Models
- Central nervous system (CNS) Infection Models
- Animal Species: Mouse, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Cotton Rats, Tree Shrews, and Zebrafish
Our facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for vaccine candidate evaluation, including immunogenicity assays and in vivo models. This enables us to assess the efficacy and safety of novel vaccine candidates under controlled conditions before advancing to clinical studies. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Zhu, Shuyong, and Abel Viejo-Borbolla. "Pathogenesis and virulence of herpes simplex virus." Virulence 12.1 (2021): 2670-2702.
- Johnston, Christine, Sami L. Gottlieb, and Anna Wald. "Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for herpes simplex virus." Vaccine 34.26 (2016): 2948-2952.
- Birkmann, Alexander, and Holger Zimmermann. "HSV antivirals–current and future treatment options." Current opinion in virology 18 (2016): 9-13.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
