Two pharmacutical companies combined resources in order to develop a vaccination against Herpes Virus

The Herpes type 2 morbidity rate for teens and young adults is tremendously high, however, if enough people take an active role in intervention and preventative treatment, the rate could drop significantly.

Yet, to date, there are no FDA approved vaccines against the genital herpes virus. Which is pretty absurd considering the fact that so many people are infected with herpes. To be more specific, about one out of every six people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes [1].

Development of a vaccine or specific drug is a very long and expensive process, which requires many approvals along the way in order to obtain the safest and most effective product.

As I grew up, I was always told that two is always better than one, and that’s true regarding all areas of life. So when two pharmaceutical companies decide to join forces in order to develop a vaccine for herpes, I understand can why, as well as praise their efforts to do so.

Both companies, pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur and biotech firm Immune Design chose to work together in order to develop an effective Herpes type 2 vaccine [2].

Both companies, pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur and biotech firm Immune Design chose to work together in order to develop an effective Herpes type 2 vaccine [2].

Although they both have vaccines in early testing , they still decided to combine their resources in order to be able to succeed where other companies have failed.

But wait, how shall we treat Herpes until a vaccine is developed? Here’s a thought- how about treatment based on natural ingredients?

It turns out that there are only two natural antiviral products which have been clinically proven effective: Novirin and Gene-Eden-VIR [3].
Apparently, Herpes virus can remain latent in the body, which is basically a “sleepy state”. In this state, the virus does not cause any health problems and the infected person doesn’t even know he is infected [4]!

The formula of these natural antiviral products was designed to help the immune system target the “sleepy” herpes.

Until a vaccine is developed, our main goal is to treat people who have been infected, and prevent disease transmission for people who have not yet been infected.

In order to do so, we must show responsibility by being aware to all current treatments on the market.

Reference:
1. CDC.com – Genital Herpes – CDC Fact Sheet. Last updated on July 1, 2014.
cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm
2. Taylor, P. Sanofi to work with Immune Design on herpes vaccine. Published October 17, 2014. pmlive.com/pharma_news/sanofi_to_work_with_immune_design_on_herpes_vaccine_607263
3. Polansky, H. Itzkovitz, E. Gene-Eden-VIR Is Antiviral: Results of a Post Marketing Clinical Study. Published in September 2013. scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=36101#.U-x7BeOSz90
4. Nahmias, André J., and William E. Josey. “Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2.” Viral infections of humans. Springer US, 1984. 351-372.‏

Herpes virus wear armor making them stronger

Many knights differ from each other by their armor, depending on their enemies’ level, and type of armor. You may compare it to the different composition of many viruses in nature, that adopt a specific outer envelope depending on their host.

The role of the virus’ outer envelope is first and foremost to protect it, mainly due to the fact that viruses are parasites that cannot survive outside the host cell [1].

If by any chance you ever had those annoying cold sores in your mouth, you are probably infected with herpes. It turns out that the symptoms are usually limited to sores or blisters, and it doesn’t end here- evidently, the virus stays in your body in a latent state, which is basically similar to falling asleep.

In this state, amazingly, it has the ability to hide from your immune system! And finally, in some cases such as stress or strong sunlight it will travel back to your skin and eventually cause an eruption of cold sores on your mouth [2,3].

In the case of Herpes virus, scientists have discovered that the structure of its outer envelope is similar to a grid, a “mesh like” structure if you may, allowing it to withstand enormous environmental pressures, and explains why herpes can maintain long-term infections [4,5].

A close up of a piece of fabric which illustrates the Herpes outer envelope

Let me remind you that up to date, there is no Herpes vaccine, so what’s striking about this discovery is that it may open up new possibilities for vaccine developments.

It is very important to find a vaccine since it would prevent the continued suffering of Herpes patients as well as the economic burden caused by the needed treatment.

Finally, we are on the right path for discovering a herpes vaccine. We must rely on talented scientists around the world, who dedicate themselves completely in order to discover new facts about herpes virus.

References:

1. Wimmer, Eckard, et al. “Synthetic viruses: a new opportunity to understand and prevent viral disease.”Nature biotechnology 27.12 (2009): 1163-1172.

2. Nahmias, André J., and William E. Josey. “Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2.” Viral infections of humans. Springer US, 1984. 351-372.‏

3. Whitley, Richard J., David W. Kimberlin, and Bernard Roizman. “Herpes simplex viruses.” Clinical Infectious Diseases (1998): 541-553.

4. Scientific American – Crow, D. The Epstein–Barr Virus Wears Chain Mail. Published on October 13, 2014.

5. Zhou, Z. Hong, et al. “Four Levels of Hierarchical Organization, Including Noncovalent Chainmail, Brace the Mature Tumor Herpesvirus Capsid against Pressurization.”Structure” 22.10 (2014): 1385-1398.