Study finds new way to treat shingles and herpes

Credit: Unsplash+

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA), David Chu and Uma Singh, have developed a new molecule that may help treat the varicella zoster virus—the virus responsible for chickenpox and shingles.

The same virus that causes chickenpox can stay hidden in the body and come back later in life as shingles, a painful condition that affects many older adults.

The new molecule is called POM-L-BHDU. According to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, it has shown strong potential for treating shingles skin lesions and may also work against the viruses that cause oral and genital herpes.

Current treatments for herpes and shingles don’t always work well, and many come with serious side effects. Also, some viruses are becoming resistant to these older drugs. That’s why this new discovery is so exciting.

POM-L-BHDU has several advantages. It can be taken in different ways: by mouth, through an IV, or applied directly to the skin. This flexibility could make it a great option for different types of patients, including those with weakened immune systems, like cancer patients.

When used as a cream, the drug helps stop the virus from spreading to other parts of the body. This also means less of the drug gets into the bloodstream, which lowers the risk of side effects.

Tests in the lab and in mice have shown that POM-L-BHDU is more powerful than current treatments. It works not only against the varicella zoster virus but also against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. These viruses cause cold sores and genital herpes.

The researchers hope to make a topical cream that people can buy without a prescription, making treatment easier and more convenient. They’ve already tested it on human skin, and the results look promising.

The next step is to begin phase 1 clinical trials to see how the drug works in people. The UGA Research Foundation has licensed the molecule to Anterogen Co., a company that will help bring it to market.

If successful, this drug could make a big difference for people suffering from shingles and herpes, offering a safer and more effective treatment.

If you’re interested in inflammation, you can also read studies about common causes of inflammation in bowel diseases, and how vitamin B might help fight COVID-19 and reduce inflammation. Other studies have looked into foods that can cause or help reduce inflammation.

If you care about cancer risk, please read studies that exercise may stop cancer in its tracks, and vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.

For more health information, please see recent studies that yogurt and high-fiber diet may cut lung cancer risk, and results showing that new cancer treatment may reawaken the immune system.

The study was published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.