Why no vaccine for Herpes?

[mayflowers]

Does anyone know there is not a vaccine for herpes but there is one for HPV?  I know that chicken pox (which is also herpes) has a vaccine but why not one for genital or oral herpes?  

Grace??  Anyone?

[gracefromHHP]

AG 707 is actually what they call a "theracine" or a theraputic vaccine.  It's for folks who are already infected with hsv2 - it doesn't help to prevent infection with it. In theory if the current formulation of this theracine shows any effects in the phase 1 trials currently going on - it would help to free us up from our daily pill routine.  The first formulation of it unfortunately completely tanked :(  It'll be a few years before we hear how the current formulation is working.

grace

[mayflowers]

Thanks Grace.  It just seems strange to me that there's a vaccine for HPV but not this one.  I don't know much abt vaccines and how or why they work but 40% is not too good.  Guess they will keep trying until they get it right!

[BillinAmerica]

what about AG-707? and ive been reading about a company in england using a live strain of asymptomatic herpes therefore no one would have symptoms what about all of this?? we have to be close

[gracefromHHP]

so far all the herpes vaccines they've tested haven't been effective.  They've been working on it - just so far results haven't been so good :(

The herpevac vaccine trials are in the process of finishing up. Perhaps you've heard of them on the news or read about them online?  The phase 2 trials showed that in completely hsv negative females - it was 40% effective in preventing infection with hsv2.  No word yet on when we'll find out what the phase 3 trials showed.  Not perfect by no means but it's a start!

grace

[mayflowers]

I meant to say "Does anyone know WHY there is not a vaccine for herpes".