In January 2009 Harvard Medical School researchers developed a new treatment for herpes type 2 prevention, that successfully wiped out the virus in mice. Researcher David Cameron believes this could be the answer to stopping herpes transmission from one person to another through sexual contact.
The topical agent works for preventing herpes 2 in mice, when applied within 2 hours after contact with the virus, or as much as one week before contact. The substance works by use of RNAi: a biological process that knocks out genes that enable herpes to travel and multiply. For years scientists have attempted to make a product like this; a microbicide cream or gel to prevent spreading of sexually transmitted diseases. Now it remains to be seen if this is successful in humans as it was in mice.
According to the World Health Organization, over 500 million people have HSV2-genital herpes. It is hoped this new product will not only protect adults during sexual contact, but prevent herpes from transferring to infants of infected mothers during childbirth. Babies contracting congenital HSV2 can suffer brain damage or die if not treated. HSV2 is not fatal in adults but it increases their risk of catching Aids, which of course is fatal.
This drug works by the process of RNAi; simply put, it not only stops the host from transmitting the disease, but also disables the receiving ability of a potentially new host. The RNAi process earned a Nobel Prize for its potential to prevent spread of all STDs. The process has some kinks when adapting for human use, because it deals with delicate, microscopic cell material that can break down before having a chance to work. No adverse effects were found in studies with mice; the task remains to create a form that works in humans. More studies have been funded through the National Institutes of Health and corporate donors, not only to perfect the topical agent to prevent spread of herpes 2, but also to develop a microbicide that will stop spread of HIV-aids.
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