ME-609: a treatment for recurrent herpes simplex virus infections.
Studies in conventional murine models of HSV infection use immunologically naive animals. These models thus mimic primary infections rather than recurrent infections in humans. We have, therefore, used a newly developed mouse model that more closely mimics recurrent HSV infection in humans. In this model, the mice are infected, and zosteriform HSV-1 infection develops in the presence of a primed immune response using adoptive transfer of immunity (ATI) as we have described previously. Using the ATI mouse model, it has been shown that a more beneficial therapy for recurrent mucocutaneous HSV infection could be achieved by controlling both the viral replication and the inflammatory response to the virus. Topical treatment was initiated in this model at the time of first occurrence of symptoms and was given three times daily for 4 days. Topical treatment with ME-609 (which contains 5% acyclovir and 1% hydrocortisone) in the ATI mouse model was substantially more efficacious than 5% Zovirax cream, 1% hydrocortisone or no treatment, respectively. The beneficial properties of ME-609 were also found to be superior to those of Zovirax cream when tested in the standard guinea pig model, representing a primary HSV infection. ME-609 represents a novel treatment principle of recurrent HSV infections and the present paper summarizes the preclinical and early clinical experience of ME-609.
Medivir AB, Huddinge, Sweden. johan.harmenberg@medivir.se
Johan G
JG
Harmenberg
Aftab R
AR
Awan
Stefan
S
Alenius
Lars
L
Ståhle
Anna C
AC
Erlandsson
Gunilla
G
Lekare
Ola
O
Flink
Elisabeth
E
Augustsson
Torbjörn
T
Larsson
Ann-Charlotte
AC
Wikström
Pontus
P
Stierna
Hugh J
HJ
Field
Alf G
AG
Larsson
Bo
B
Oberg
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004423:Ear / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D000212:Acyclovir