Positive phase 1 results for Admedus herpes trial

Healthcare company Admedus today announced interim study results on its phase 1 trial of a therapeutic vaccine for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2). The vaccine was found to be safe in the study subjects and was able to generate a T-cell response.

HSV-2 is the major causative agent of genital herpes and often results in recurrent painful sores in the genital area. There is no cure for HSV-2 or herpes; antiviral drugs can only reduce outbreaks, and incidence is still high.

Admedus’s core technology looks at stimulating the immune response to enable a patient to fight against diseases. It is based on the work of Admedus Vaccines’ founder, Professor Ian Frazer, and his team over the last 10 years.

“This is an encouraging result for the core vaccine technology and provides us with the basis for not only progressing the herpes therapeutic vaccine program, but also preparing the human papillomavirus vaccine for initial clinical studies as a therapeutic against HPV and cervical cancer,” said Admedus CEO Lee Rodne.

Admedus’s dosing of study subjects was completed in December 2013 and further analysis of the data is ongoing, with the company anticipating further data later in the year.

“The results are very encouraging and we believe we should progress these programs forward,” said Professor Frazer.

“Once we complete our analysis, the team will be looking to take this program into a second clinical study in patients infected with the herpes virus.”