Herpes News and Research

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Herpes is an infection caused by two different but closely related viruses — herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or cold sores and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) or genital herpes. Both are easy to catch. They have similar symptoms (blisters or sores) and both can occur on different parts of the body. When the infection is on the mouth, it is called oral herpes. When it is on or near the sex organs, it is called genital herpes. There is no cure for herpes. Treatments are available to speed up the healing of the genital sores.

FDA approves GlaxoSmithKline’s Arnuity Ellipta for treatment of asthma

GlaxoSmithKline plc today announced that the FDA has approved Arnuity™ Ellipta® (fluticasone furoate inhalation powder), a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medicine for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients aged 12 years and older. Arnuity is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm.

21 Aug 2014

Study: 15,000 pregnant women show decreased amount of prevalence of HSV type 2

In a study that included approximately 15,000 pregnant women, seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 decreased substantially between 1989 and 2010 while there was no overall decrease for HSV type 1, but a slight increase among black women, according to a study in the August 20 issue of JAMA.

20 Aug 2014

Herpes zoster vaccine effective in protecting older adults against shingles, even after chemotherapy

The herpes zoster vaccine continues to be effective in protecting older adults against shingles, even after they undergo chemotherapy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

5 Aug 2014

Virologists find cells are having to fight virus constantly, even in dormant phase

Scientists investigating the herpes virus have been surprised to find an ongoing conflict in the cells of sufferers, even when the virus is apparently dormant.

30 Jul 2014

Researchers examine association between ritual circumcision procedure and HSV-1 in infants

A rare procedure occasionally performed during Jewish circumcisions that involves direct oral suction is a likely source of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) transmissions documented in infants between 1988 and 2012, a literature review conducted by Penn Medicine researchers and published online in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society found.

25 Jul 2014

UCB, Dermira enter into licensing agreement for development, commercialization of Cimzia

UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader, and Dermira, Inc., a privately held US-based dermatology company, announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and future commercialization of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in dermatology.

3 Jul 2014

Ralphs Pharmacies continue to offer Tdap vaccinations for whooping cough in Southern California

As the number of pertussis cases, also known as whooping cough, reaches epidemic proportions in California, Ralphs Pharmacies continue to offer Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccinations at its 85 in-store pharmacies throughout Southern California.

2 Jul 2014

Interactions with other infections can trigger herpes virus to reactivate, shows research

The famous slogan is "A diamond is forever," but that phrase might be better suited to herpes: Unlike most viruses, which succumb to the immune system's attack, herpes remains in the body forever, lying in wait, sometimes reactivating years later.

27 Jun 2014

Researchers discover analgesic mechanism that prevents pain in Buruli ulcer patients

When the body receives an injury to the skin, a signal is sent to the brain, which generates a sensation of pain.

20 Jun 2014

Melanoma in adulthood can be reduced by consistent use of sunscreen in childhood

Research conducted at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma, has established unequivocally in a natural animal model that the incidence of malignant melanoma in adulthood can be dramatically reduced by the consistent use of sunscreen in infancy and childhood.

20 Jun 2014

Human herpes simplex virus infected human approximately 1.6 million years ago

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the evolutionary origins of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) -1 and -2, reporting that the former infected hominids before their evolutionary split from chimpanzees 6 million years ago while the latter jumped from ancient chimpanzees to ancestors of modern humans - Homo erectus - approximately 1.6 million years ago.

11 Jun 2014

PaxVax partners with UC to develop combination vaccine to prevent genital HSV infections

PaxVax Inc., a specialty vaccine company with a commercial focus on travel and biodefense and a social mission to ensure global access to its vaccines, today announced that it has entered into a research and development collaboration with the University of California, San Diego to develop a combination vaccine to prevent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections.

10 Jun 2014

Scientists unravel how herpesviruses fight against our immune system

How the virus does this was unknown until now. The scientists from the HZI research group "Viral Immune Modulation" under the leadership of Prof. Melanie Brinkmann have now been able to show that the virus is actively preventing activation of the innate immune system through Toll-like receptors.

9 Jun 2014

High dose vitamin C therapy may have positive effect on Epstein-Barr virus infection

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes family that targets lymphocytes and epithelial cells. While the infection is usually benign, it can in some cases lead to acute infectious mononucleosis and can impair the immune system. EBV is also linked to several malignancies. There is currently no cure for removing EBV infections and very little success treating acute EBV infection and mononucleosis with drugs.

4 Jun 2014

HCV reactivation may not worsen survival outcomes for lymphoma patients with HIV

More than a quarter of HIV+ patients are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which may complicate treatment and care decisions after a cancer diagnosis. The specifics of those complications haven't been well-researched in the past. Results from a new Fox Chase Cancer Center study on this patient population may start filling in that gap.

31 May 2014

Researchers develop new method for isolating, genome sequencing individual malaria parasite cell

A new method for isolating and genome sequencing an individual malaria parasite cell has been developed by Texas Biomed researchers in San Antonio and their colleagues.

9 May 2014

Nanoviricides develops new drug candidates against MERS infection

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6 May 2014

UAMS receives $1.8M grant to lead new treatments for herpes viruses and cancers

A surprise discovery that could lead to new treatments for herpes viruses that infect more than 90 percent of the world's adult population has led to a $1.8 million grant to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

5 May 2014

Pfizer reports positive results from two tofacitinib Phase 3 trials for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis

Pfizer Inc. announced today top-line results from two pivotal Phase 3 trials from the Oral treatment Psoriasis Trials (OPT) Program, OPT Pivotal #1 (A3921078) and OPT Pivotal #2 (A3921079), evaluating the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, the first in a new class of medicines being investigated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

23 Apr 2014

FDA announces expanded approval of Arzerra in combination with chlorambucil for CLL treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced the expanded approval of Arzerra (ofatumumab) in combination with chlorambucil for the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Arzerra was previously approved by the FDA in October 2009 for the treatment of CLL resistant to other forms of chemotherapy. Diplomat has access to dispense Arzerra.

22 Apr 2014