Efficacy and safety of aciclovir mucoadhesive buccal tablet in immunocompetent patients with labial herpes (LIP Trial): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, self-initiated trial.

Background: Single-day, high-dose systemic antiviral drugs are effective in the treatment of labial herpes (herpes labialis [HL]). Aciclovir Lauriad® mucoadhesive buccal tablet (ABT) is an innovative drug delivery system providing high and prolonged exposure to aciclovir in the oral cavity, supporting its evaluation as a single low dose in HL.

Methods: In this multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled patient-initiated trial, 775 patients with recurrent HL were randomly assigned to either a single application of ABT 50 mg or a matching placebo as soon as prodromal symptoms occurred.

Single-day famciclovir for the treatment of genital herpes: follow-up results of time to next recurrence and assessment of antiviral resistance.

Background: Episodic therapy of genital herpes is usually recommended for patients with infrequent symptomatic recurrences and where transmission is not a concern. While shorter courses are as effective as standard 5-day regimens, it is unknown whether abbreviated therapy has detrimental effects on natural history and the development of antiviral resistance.

Objectives: To assess time to next recurrence and development of antiviral resistance in patients with recurrent genital herpes treated with either single-day famciclovir (1 g twice-daily) or 3-day valacyclovir (500 mg twice-daily).

Immunodominant epitopes in herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D are recognized by CD4 lymphocytes from both HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive subjects.

In human recurrent cutaneous herpes simplex, there is a sequential infiltrate of CD4 and then CD8 lymphocytes into lesions. CD4 lymphocytes are the major producers of the key cytokine IFN-gamma in lesions. They recognize mainly structural proteins and especially glycoproteins D and B (gD and gB) when restimulated in vitro.

2-day versus 5-day famciclovir as treatment of recurrences of genital herpes: results of the FaST study.

Background: The brief period of viral replication in recurrent genital herpes lesions suggests shorter therapeutic regimens may be as effective as standard 5-day courses.

Objective: To demonstrate that a 2-day course of famciclovir 500 mg statim, then 250 mg twice daily was non-inferior to the standard 5-day course of 125 mg twice daily.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned either the 2-day or 5-day famciclovir course and initiated therapy within 12 h of onset of prodromal symptoms.

Single-day, patient-initiated famciclovir therapy versus 3-day valacyclovir regimen for recurrent genital herpes: a randomized, double-blind, comparative trial.

Background: Recurrent genital herpes is a major problem for patients worldwide. Early episodic treatment with short-course therapy is effective, often stopping progression of outbreaks. This study is the first head-to-head comparison of single-day famciclovir (1000 mg administered twice daily) versus 3-day valacyclovir (500 mg administered twice daily) for episodic therapy in immunocompetent patients.

An update on short-course episodic and prevention therapies for herpes genitalis.

The prevalence of herpes genitalis (genital herpes) has increased markedly over the past three decades. The most common cause is infection with the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), but it can also occur as a result of HSV-1 infection. Herpes genitalis can cause substantial psychosexual as well as physical morbidity and, in immunocompromised individuals, such as those who are HIV-positive, HSV infection can result in severe disease with progressive and extensive lesions.

Single-dose, patient-initiated famciclovir: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for episodic treatment of herpes labialis.

Background: The brief period of viral replication in recurrent herpes labialis lesions suggests shorter therapeutic regimens are a logical episodic treatment strategy.

Objective: We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of single-dose and single-day famciclovir treatments.

Methods: In all, 701 randomly assigned patients self-initiated therapy with famciclovir (1500 mg once [single dose] or 750 mg twice a day for 1 day [single day]) or placebo within 1 hour of onset of the prodromal symptoms of an episode of herpes labialis.