VACCINE FOR HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS
Results from clinical trials of a vaccine for the herpes simplex virus (HSV) has performed well in Phase 1 clinical trials.
Head ResearcherProfessor Ian FrazerTeam MembersBody PartOral and genital skin Equipment Used Process UsedVaccine technology developed by Prof Frazer and Dr Jian ZhouResearch AreasImmunologyDiseaseGenital herpesCommercial PartnershipsAmedus VaccinesInstitutionsUQDI
Nineteen of the 20 people in the Phase 1 clinical trial of Professor Frazer’s new vaccine had produced T-cells in response against HSV-2 which causes genital herpes. Around one in six Australians carry the virus that causes itchy skin lesions, up to one in four Australians aged 40-49 have the virus. The vaccine relies on a novel set of enhancements to polynucleotide vaccine technology developed by Professor Frazer using observations made by him and by Dr Jian Zhou concerning the requirements for effective viral gene expression in human cells; and by Professor Frazer on the use of ubiquitin fusion proteins to enhance cellular immunity to viral proteins.
The clean safety profile and strong dose-dependent cellular immune responses observed, following intradermal injection of the HSV-2 vaccine in this study, were as expected with this vaccine technology. A Phase 2 study of vaccine efficacy for reduction of HSV viral shedding and symptomatic disease is underway.There is hope the vaccine will result in a “functional cure”, where the visible disease caused by the virus is reduced or prevented. The vaccine may subsequently be tested for its ability to prevent HSV infection.