Herpes Vaccines- What Else Is Out There?

Since Genocea first reported data on GEN-003 (which would make it the first successful herpes vaccine ever) earlier this year, there has been massive interest in development.

This past September, a new player entered the field—Rational Vaccines (Rvx), which was founded by immunologist Dr. William Halford. RVx's Theravax claimed to have dramatically reduced genital outbreaks in 20 patients. Shortly thereafter, I interviewed Dr. Halford, to try and get additional information on Theravax.

You can find a table that compares (obviously apples and oranges, GEN-003 is conducting US clinical trials, Theravax did a tiny pilot study with infected patients in a foreign country) the two vaccines here. 

The table below summarizes the other candidates that are (or were) in the pipeline. 

Impressions:

• Glaxo's (GSK) synthetic vaccine went down in flames. Live vaccines are superior so far because they perfectly mimic the natural pathogen while synthetic vaccines mimic how viral vaccines should work.
• Sanofi, a major player in the vaccine world, has several candidates - all of which are even earlier in the development process, so impossible to evaluate at this time.
• Admedus' DNA vaccine, which is being developed in Australia, is one I would keep my eyes on.

• Agenus' HerpV peptide vaccine is looking like it may join Glaxo's synthetic construct in the pile of biological detritus.

• GenVec's GV2207 and Vical's GV2207 both perform well in protecting mice and/or guinea pigs against challenge with live herpes. Although animal models of herpes are quite good (predictive of human efficacy), these have a long way to go.

• There is little clinical information about Albert Einstein's live attenuated vaccine.

To read more articles about herpes vaccines, please click here.