Experimental Gel May Help Reduce Risks of HSV-2 Infection

Aug. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- An experimental gel may help prevent genital herpes infections. This finding for the vaginal gel, which contains a drug used to treat the AIDS virus, comes from a recent study done in South Africa by the Centre for the AIDS program of Research.

A tenofovir gel that has not yet been approved or manufactured could significantly lower the number of cases of genital herpes that are HSV-2 or herpes simplex virus type 2.

In the study, women who used the vaginal gel experienced an annual infection rate of 10.2%, while the rate for women with the placebo gel was 21%.

The findings indicate that the gel would be a useful form of protection for a woman who is worried about getting HSV-2. As the study’s primary author Dr. Salim Abdool Karim explained to Reuters Health, "The problem is, right now it’s not available. And taking tenofovir tablets instead of the gel doesn’t have the same benefit."

The tablets are less effective than the gel, said Karim. While condoms do provide the best protection against herpes simplex virus type 2, it is limited as the virus can spread to other parts of the groin.

As for the prevalence of genital herpes (HSV-2) in the US, it affects about one in every five adults between 15-49 years old. The number of Americans with this virus is over 50 million, with it affecting women more often than men. The herpes strain is even more common in South Africa, affecting roughly half of its population.

The experimental gel uses tenofovir, a medicine that is given to patients with HIV-1 infections in an oral form. The tenofovir tablets not only treat HIV-1 but also help to prevent it.

The latest South African study was based on a previous investigation about the effects of the anti-viral drug on genital herpes. This first study was performed at the International Clinical Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle. The researchers found that the gel reduced the chances of getting HIV by 39% for the 422 women in the study.

The importance of developing tenofovir as an intervention for genital herpes is significant given the issues with condoms and lack of other options. As with many medicines, there may be side effects of the gel, such as mild diarrhea. The tablet form used for AIDS patients has side effects that include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, although it is possible the gel form may not have the same effects.

Alarmingly, many people are at risk of contracting herpes simplex virus type 2 yet are unaware of its prevalence. For this reason, even if tenofovir gel does eventually go to market, there is still the issue of whether men or women will use it.

Young people are at a substantial risk of developing HSV-2 if they are sexually active. While many individuals are knowledgeable of the risks associated with drinking and smoking, they are likely less "in the know" about their chances of getting genital herpes.

For more information on potential cure for the herpes simpex virus, go to: http://www.hsvoutbreak.com/potential-cure-for-the-herpes-...

Source: http://www.hsvoutbreak.com/