FEBRUARY 1999 through 1998  The Herpes News Archive
Sorry, most links were accidentally destroyed

 Feb 10 - Bristol Myers suspends trial of herpes drug lobuvacir
(NYSE: BMY) announced today that preliminary observations in its lifetime rodent toxicology studies of lobucavir have revealed a possible
drug-related increase in tumor occurrence. Lobucavir is a nucleoside analogue in Phase III development for chronic hepatitis B and herpes viruses. Although such findings are not unique among this class of antiviral agents, Bristol-Myers Squibb has elected to suspend its clinical studies of lobucavir until it has had the opportunity to assess thoroughly the implications of these findings on the future development of the drug. It should be noted that no relationship between lobucavir and tumor occurrence has been reported in humans.

Jan 28 - CEL SCI reports herpes vaccine progress
In a study published in the latest issue of Vaccine, researchers at CEL-SCI CORPORATION (Amex: HIV) demonstrated increased survival in mice after challenge with the herpes simplex virus. The immunizations allowed the animals to fight the infection much more quickly and effectively, resulting in reduced symptoms and mortality. These new vaccines are based upon CEL-SCI's patented L.E.A.P.S.(TM) (Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System) technology. They consist of two protein pieces (peptides). The first is a copy of a small portion of a herpes simplex virus protein and the second is a T-cell binding ligand. The combination of these two peptides is a herpes simplex L.E.A.P.S. vaccine. The T-cell binding ligand increases the effectiveness of the vaccine by directing the immune response in a way most likely to eliminate or control the disease, which, in the case of herpes simplex, is thought to be the cellular immune response. The viral protein (in the form of a peptide) given without the T- cell binding ligand accelerated disease progression and mortality, while the addition of the T-cell binding ligand made the viral protein protective.

Jan 11 - Maxim Pharmaceuticals announces positive trial results of herpes cream
(AMEX:MMP) today announced the results of preliminary tests of its new therapy MaxDerm in a number of topical applications, including herpes labialis (cold sores). In each of the pilot studies treatment with MaxDerm was consistently more effective than the placebo controls. In a pilot study of 18 patients with herpes labialis, patients treated with MaxDerm containing the highest concentration of active ingredient demonstrated a nearly complete (greater than 99%) improvement of their lesions following only four days of administration. Patients treated with the placebo, conversely, experienced an increase in mean lesion size of over 50% during the study period.

Jan 11 - Herpes reported among wrestlers
A disturbingly high number of Washington state high school wrestlers have been infected with the type of herpes        virus that typically causes cold sores, health officials recently reported in an alert to doctors. "A high proportion, perhaps a majority of all wrestlers, are infected," said Dr Jeff Duchin, a communicable disease expert with the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. (This article set off a media frenzy of old news herpes gladiatorium presence among wrestlers)

1998

Dec 18 - Survey Shows 77% Depressed During Genital Herpes Outbreak
Results show that 77 percent of Canadians with genital herpes say they are depressed during an outbreak and 30 percent say the disease hurts their job performance, according to the largest survey ever conducted with this group. The Angus Reid Group survey of 456 patients reveals that people with genital herpes experience strong feelings of shame, disgust, anger, frustration and embarrassment. Many patients report avoiding new relationships for fear of transmitting the disease. A majority of these patients, 84 percent, said  they would benefit from having a suppressive therapy available for important times in their lives. With suppressive therapy, patients take a medication over a continuous period to prevent future outbreaks, rather than be treated when an outbreak occurs.

Sep  9 - Famvir Keeps Patients Free From Genital Herpes For One Year
Patients who suffer from frequent outbreaks of recurrent genital herpes can significantly benefit from taking Famvir (famciclovir, SmithKline
Beecham) to prevent these outbreaks, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In this year-long study, nearly three-quarters of patients treated with Famvir as suppressive (ongoing) therapy had no herpes simplex virus (HSV) recurrences for the entire year.Study participants had experienced 10 or more outbreaks in the two-year period prior to enrollment.

Aug  8 - Once Daily Valtrex Is Enough For Genital Herpes, Research Shows
The results of the largest placebo-controlled trial of anti-viral treatment to prevent recurrent attacks of genital herpes were published in the
September issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study shows that once-daily treatment with the anti-viral drug Valtrex (valaciclovir) is as effective and well tolerated as twice-daily treatment. "This is good news for both patients and their physicians," said Dr. Michael Reitano, medical director of the Herpes Advice Center in New York, N.Y., and first author of the new study.

Jul 28 - Famvir Approved In Canada To Prevent Genital Herpes
The Health Protection Branch of Health Canada has approved SmithKline Beecham Pharmas Famvir(R) (famciclovir), for the suppression of genital herpes. While Famvir has been widely prescribed to treat episodic genital herpes, patients can now take it to prevent outbreaks. Clinical evidence demonstrates that taken twice-daily, Famvir is proven to prevent recurrences for more than one year.

1998 Significant Herpes News reported in Antivral Agents Bulletin

Encouraging Developments and Trends
Famciclovir (Famvir) from SmithKline Beecham Corp. received supplemental approval for recurrent herpes simplex virus infections in HIV-infected patients.
Meditech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is introducing an over-the-counter topical version of MTCH-24 (docusate sodium) for the treatment of  oral herpes.
Topical 10% n-docosanol (Lidakol) cream from Lidak Pharmaceuticals showed efficacy in a Phase III trial for treatment of recurrent oral-facial herpes.
DISC HSV-2 vaccine, a genital herpes immunotherapeutic vaccine, from Cantab Pharmaceuticals, PLC and Glaxo Wellcome Ltd. showed promise in early trials.
Valacyclovir (Valtrex) from Glaxo Wellcome Inc. was shown comparably effective to acyclovir for reducing viral shedding in  asymptomatic genital herpes.
Oral acyclovir (Zovirax) from Glaxo Wellcome Co. was shown to suppress recurrences of ocular herpes.
Genvir, oral controlled-release acyclovir, from Flamel Technologies showed efficacy comparable to (or better than) acyclovir for acute genital
herpes.
Famciclovir (Famvir) from SmithKline Beecham Corp. showed efficacy for treatment of orofacial herpes after laser skin resurfacing (laser peel) cosmetic surgery.
Valacyclovir (Valtrex) from Glaxo Wellcome is in a Phase III trial for reducing genital herpes transmission.
PRO 2000 topical microbicidal/spermicidal gel from Procept, Inc. entered trials for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases,including HIV and genital herpes.
HveC was shown to mediate entry of a number of alpha herpesviruses into human cells.

Discouraging News
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. halted development of sorivudine (Usevir; BV-araU) for treatment of herpes zoster due to safety and liability concerns.
The company also canceled its license with Lidak Pharmaceuticals Inc. for marketing of topical n-docosanol (Lidakol) cream for treatment of oral herpes.
Contrary to prior reports, acyclovir (Zovirax) from Glaxo Wellcome Inc. did not improve survival in AIDS patients.

Corporate linkages and collaborations included:
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquired products from Warner-Lambert Co. including Fluogen, the company's influenza virus vaccine, and vidarabine (Vira-A), used for treatment of certain herpes simplex virus infections.