At least 1 in 4 Americans will contract a sexually transmitted Infection (STI) at some point in his/her life and genital herpes is one of the most common STIs in the United States.
What is Genital Herpes?
Genital Herpes is an STI caused by the herpes simplex virus which has two types, type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2).
Genital Herpes symptoms appear as one or more blisters around the genitals, rectum or the mouth. The blisters break and leave painful sores which may take a month to heal.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, most individuals infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 are not aware they contracted it. This STI is tricky because individuals may experience either no symptoms or see mild symptoms that are mistaken for other skin conditions.
Clinical Trials Being Conducted in Australia
Although treatment for genital herpes is available there is no cure. However, in Australia a clinical trial on a potential genital herpes vaccine is about to reach phase 1.
The University of Queensland’s company Coridon has been approved to begin phase 1 of the HSV-2 vaccine after animal testing showed “promising” results.
How “Promising” can Results be for Humans?
Professor Ian Frazer, leading scientist working on the vaccine for HSV-2 is taking 20 healthy human volunteers between the ages of 18 and 45, who have never had a cold sore, and will administer the vaccine three times.
The volunteers will then get a blood test done after each time they received the vaccine, and Professor Frazer will look and see if they developed immunity.
