title: Penciclovir: new preparation.  Slightly effective.
abstract: (1) A penciclovir skin cream has been approved in France for local treatment of herpes simplex labialis.  (2) The clinical file is limited to a single trial versus the excipient.  This double-blind trial showed that, even when started immediately after the first manifestations occur, penciclovir cream failed to prevent the emergence of skin lesions.  The only effect was a reduction in the duration of the lesions and associated pain by a few hours.  In the absence of any specific assessment, there is no evidence that penciclovir improves overall patient satisfaction.  (3) Penciclovir has not been compared with aciclovir skin cream.
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir