Are there any herpes (HSV) vaccines currently being studied?
Yes, vaccines are currently being researched to target both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Most are being developed for HSV-2. But since the viruses are so similar, an HSV-2 vaccine would also likely work to prevent or treat HSV-1, too.
There are two types of HSV vaccines being studied:
Treatment vaccines: These vaccines would benefit people who’ve already been infected with HSV. They could improve symptoms, help blisters heal faster, and lower the risk of spreading the virus to other people.
Preventative vaccines: These vaccines would benefit people who haven’t been exposed to HSV. They would train your immune system to prevent an HSV infection if you were exposed to the virus in the future.
Just as with any vaccine, all HSV vaccines will need to go through three types of clinical trials — phase 1, 2, and 3 trials — before being approved by the FDA. This to make sure that they’re safe and effective for humans. This process typically takes several years. So, it will likely be some time before we see an HSV vaccine come to market. Here are a few HSV vaccine candidates being studied right now.
