Scientists from the University of Georgia have created a new molecule that could bring real hope to people suffering from shingles and herpes.
This discovery could lead to better, safer, and more convenient treatments in the future.
The varicella zoster virus is the virus that causes both chickenpox and shingles. Most people get chickenpox as children, but the virus doesn’t go away after the illness ends.
Instead, it hides quietly in the body and can become active again later in life, causing a painful condition known as shingles. For many people, shingles leads to skin rashes, burning pain, and discomfort that can last for weeks or even months.
Researchers David Chu and Uma Singh have developed and patented a new molecule named POM-L-BHDU. This molecule has shown great promise in fighting shingles, chickenpox, and even the viruses that cause oral and genital herpes. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Currently, many medicines used to treat herpes and shingles either don’t work very well or have strong side effects. On top of that, viruses are getting better at resisting existing drugs, making it harder to treat infections. This new molecule might solve some of those problems.
POM-L-BHDU can be taken in different ways: by mouth, through a vein, or applied directly on the skin. This makes it very flexible for different treatment needs. For example, it could be used in a cream that people apply at home for herpes or shingles outbreaks.
In lab tests and in mice, this new molecule worked better than many current drugs. When used as a cream, it helped stop the virus from spreading to other areas of the body. Since less of the drug enters the bloodstream when used on the skin, this also helps reduce possible side effects.
What makes this even more exciting is that this new molecule seems to work not just on the varicella zoster virus, but also on herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, which cause cold sores and genital herpes. If future studies go well, this drug could offer a better way to treat all of these infections.
The researchers hope that one day, the cream version of this medicine could be sold over the counter, meaning people wouldn’t need a prescription to get it. That would make it easier and faster for people to treat outbreaks at home.
So far, the molecule has passed lab tests and animal testing. It has also been tested on human skin in the lab and showed good results. The next step is to begin human clinical trials to make sure it is safe and works well in people.
The University of Georgia Research Foundation has licensed this drug to a company called Anterogen Co., which will help move it forward into clinical use. If all goes well, this new molecule could change how we treat shingles and herpes, helping many people around the world live with less pain and stress.
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