Rational Vaccines’ experimental vaccine candidate for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the primary cause of genital herpes, is showing promise in preclinical studies.
Massachusetts-based Rational Vaccines said findings from a pilot study funded by the National Institutes of Health showed that RVX201, its lead vaccine candidate for this indication, led to a reduction in recurrent genital lesions when compared to the gD2-alum/MPL vaccine in animal studies. The company noted that the data shows that RVX201 generated a robust cellular immune response seven days after infection with HSV-2.
Data from the preclinical study also exhibited that, in comparison to no vaccine, animals that received the Rational Vaccines medication saw the number of symptomatic days reduced by 45%. In comparison, those animals that received the gD2-alum/MPL vaccine only had a 24% reduction in symptomatic days. The company also noted that additional prophylactic studies in mice have shown significant protection against lethal HSV-2 genital challenge.
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