Common Herpes Drug Effectively Combats HIV-1
The commonly used herpes drug valacyclovir (Valtrex) effectively decreases HIV-1 levels in patients without herpes, according to a recent study.
In the past, researchers thought that valacyclovir worked by surpressing the immune activation caused by HSV-2, a common HIV co-pathogen, preventing HIV from spreading as quickly. Several studies seemed to confirm this by demonstrating decreased HIV viral load in patients with both HIV-1 and HSV-2.
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In order to put this to the test, researchers conducted a study from June 2009 to July 2012 in which 18 HIV-1 infected participants without HSV-2 were randomly assigned to either twice-daily valacyclovir or placebo for 12 weeks. 1,2
After a 2-week break from all medications in both groups, researchers switched each groups’ regimen so that those originally taking valacyclovir now took the placebo, and those originally taking the placebo began taking valacyclovir.1
Overall, the study showed that when participants were taking valacyclovir, they had lower viral loads than when they were taking a placebo.
“Our most recent clinical study demonstrates that acyclovir blocks HIV replication directly. The anti-HIV activity of valacyclovir does not depend on blocking the inflammation caused by herpes simplex virus 2,” the researchers wrote.1
“The drug might be an agent that can be used safely in some people with HIV infection who have a form of HIV that is highly resistant to other antiretroviral drugs,” they concluded. 1
The complete study is published in the March issue of Clinical Infectious Disease.
-Michelle Canales Butcher
References:
1. Case Western Reserve University. Common herpes medication reduces HIV-1 levels, independent of herpes infection. March 13, 2015. http://casemed.case.edu/newscenter/news-release/newsrelease.cfm?news_id=253. Accessed March 16, 2015.
2. Vanpouille C, Lisco A, Grivel JC, et al. Valacyclovir decreases plasma HIV-1 RNA in HSV-2 seronegative individuals: a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial. 2015 March [epub ahead of print] doi:10.1093/cid/civ172.