They also discovered that quite a low concentration of BX795 is needed to clear the infection — much lower than the concentration required in other similar drugs. Additionally, they found no negative side effects in cells that were not infected with the virus.

Researchers are hoping that the study can move to a clinical trial soon and that it will be successful in treating other forms of herpes and HIV as well. Allure reached out to the authors of the study for further information and will update this piece as we learn more.

(UPDATE: February 16, 2018 6:00 P.M. EST): We now have more details surrounding the promising new drug for herpes known as BX795, which researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found to be successful in clearing HSV-1 from eyes. They believe it could also work against other forms of herpes, as well as potentially work as a broad-spectrum anti-viral drug that fights a wide range of infections, including HIV. Here's what we know.

According to an email study author Deepak Shukla sent Allure, he and his team are hoping to move the drug to the clinical trial stage in two to three years and already have preliminary data suggesting the treatment will work against genital herpes, too. They also believe that because it targets a host molecule instead of a viral molecule, it has a high chance of inhibiting HIV infections. Even better: The drug could have potential in treating HPV, too, according to Shukla. "It should work against HPV as well, because AKT phosphorylation is needed for the virus to replicate," Shukla explained. "Our drug reduces AKT phosphorylation, therefore, it should be very effective against HPV too."

As of now, Shukla says they have not noticed any negative side effects from the dosage they're using, which is applied topically (though they're currently working on developing an oral formulation, as well). What's also exciting is that Shukla claims that BX795's effects may last longer than those of existing drugs, since BX795 targets a host molecule rather than the infection itself. "Our drug defines an entirely new class of anti-HSV antivirals. It is likely to succeed where existing drugs fail due to [the] emergence of viral resistance against them," Shukla says. "Our study already shows that our drug is highly effective against an acyclovir-resistant strain." (Acyclovir is a common anti-viral drug.)

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 90 percent of adults have been exposed to the virus by age 50, a fact that Shukla also pointed out. Hopefully, this exciting discovery will mean better care for people with HSV. As for when the drug will be widely available, Shukla says it all depends on FDA approval, but ideally, the hope is to have a topical version of the drug on the market within three years.

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