I do hope we see movement on the HSV- 1 commercialization Scope of the problem
In 2020 (last available estimates), 3.8 billion people under the age of 50, or 64.2% of the global population, had HSV-1 infection (oral or genital). Most HSV-1 infections are acquired during childhood.
Genital herpes caused by HSV-2 affects an estimated 519.5 million (13.3%) people aged 15–49 years worldwide (2020 data). HSV-2 infects women almost twice as often as men because sexual transmission is more efficient from men to women. Prevalence increases with age, though the highest number of new infections are in adolescents.
Herpes simplex virus
Dr. Arkady Mandel, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase® stated, “Most viruses can cause serious and fatal illnesses and it is important to define those situations, where antiviral use is warranted and of proven benefit to minimize the toxicity and viral resistance of vaccines, which has been described for nearly all antiviral drugs. We are very pleased by the outcomes of the latest experiments conducted by Dr. Coombs, demonstrating that Ruvidar ™ alone can destroy viruses at low concentrations, preclinically. The antiviral activity of Ruvidar™ alone surpassed the antiviral activity of Acyclovir and can be even further optimized through activation, such as light, radiation, sound or a drug. It is well known that the transferrin receptor (“TfR”) is an alternative target for viruses to penetrate mammalian cells. The literature strongly suggests that the TfR pathway is what a virus uses to enter and infect a cell. In previous Theralase ® research, it was demonstrated that Ruvidar™ combined with transferrin (“Tf”) (Rutherrin®) was able to utilize the TfR pathway to penetrate a cell; hence, Ruvidar™ and a virus are in competition for the same TfR receptor. This theoretically allows Ruvidar™ the ability to block or significantly reduce the infectivity of the virus, as they compete for the same “door” into a cell, suggesting that Ruvidar™ could be effectively used not only as a treatment to destroy viral infections, but also as a prophylactic treatment (to prevent disease). On a final note, antiviral Ruvidar™ may find an additional clinical application in patients with cancer and those undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation for prevention of infection from viral agents.”
Roger DuMoulin-White, B.E.Sc., P.Eng., Pro.Dir., President and Chief Executive Officer of Theralase® stated, “ This latest research continues to strengthen what we already know, Ruvidar™ is a very potent drug in the destruction of cancer, viruses and bacteria on its own and is further enhanced by light, radiation, sound or drug activation. Based on this latest research, Theralase® plans to commence seeking a partner / licensing opportunity in the development of Ruvidar™ for both a topical and oral treatment for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex. “