Developing a new treatment for herpes eye infections
Official title: Optimizing a Stapled-Peptide That Specifically Targets HSV-1 to Treat Herpes Ocular Keratitis
Funded at Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC · NIH-10840852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new antiviral drug that could help people with herpes eye infections, especially those who aren't responding well to current treatments, by targeting a specific part of the virus to stop it from spreading.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Doylestown, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $975,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R42AI170552-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10840852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with herpes ocular keratitis, particularly those who have shown resistance to Acyclovir treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with herpes ocular keratitis who respond well to current antiviral treatments may not benefit from this new approach.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a novel antiviral drug that targets a specific protein involved in the replication of the Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1), which causes herpes ocular keratitis. Current treatments like Acyclovir are becoming less effective due to the emergence of resistant virus strains. By using stapled peptides, the research aims to improve the binding efficiency to the viral proteins, potentially offering a new treatment option for patients with resistant infections. The approach involves detailed biochemical assays and structural analysis to design and optimize these peptides.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new effective treatment for patients suffering from herpes eye infections that do not respond to existing antiviral medications.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting viral processivity factors is relatively novel, similar strategies in antiviral drug development have shown promise in other viral infections.
Where this research is happening
-
Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
Doylestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reitz, Allen Bernard — Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, INC
- Study coordinator: Reitz, Allen Bernard
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.