The Natural History of Severe Viral Infections and Characterization of Immune Defects in Patients Without Known Immunocompromise
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A Study of a Selective T Cell Receptor (TCR) Targeting, Bifunctional Antibody-fusion Molecule STAR0602 in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors
Phase II Study of Pacritinib in Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV)-Associated Multicentric Castleman Disease and KSHV-Associated Inflammatory Cytokine Syndrome (KICS)
Safety and Immunogenicity of Recombinant Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine in People With HIV Who Have a CD4 Count Less Than 300 or Greater Than or Equal to 300 and a Healthy Control Population
A Study That Collects Participant Data and Biospecimens to Analyze Pathogenic Exosomes That Mediate Increased Vascular Dementia Risk in Individuals With Herpes Zoster.
What is herpes?
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. HSV-1 usually causes cold sores on the mouth. HSV-2 causes most genital herpes. After the first infection, the virus hides in your nerves for life and wakes up now and then, which is why sores come back. It can spread even when no sores show. Herpes is very common: CDC data shows about 1 in 2 Americans aged 14 to 49 carry HSV-1, and about 1 in 8 carry HSV-2. Most people with HSV-2, about 8 in 10, don't know they have it. Herpes is also part of a bigger virus family that includes shingles, so a few studies here may focus on shingles instead.
Herpes research is unusual for a few reasons. Past vaccine trials failed, so companies stayed away for years and are only now coming back. Genital herpes studies often ask for daily self swabs for weeks. And stigma keeps many people researching quietly on their own, which makes studies slower to fill.
Is there a cure for herpes, and how far away is one?
There is no cure today. Current medicines shorten outbreaks and make them less frequent, but they do not remove the virus from the body. Nobody can promise a date for a cure, and anyone who does is guessing. What can be said is that the first new class of herpes antivirals in about 30 years is in late stage trials, and in 2026 the FDA granted one of them priority review.
What types of clinical trials are used for herpes?
Depending on the objective of the trial, researchers may use one or more different methods of clinical trial design to gather the necessary data. Each type has advantages for researchers, with the method chosen largely depending on the desired outcome.
Treatment trials
Researchers use interventional trials for herpes to directly test and evaluate new or existing treatments and therapeutic approaches to better manage the infection. These trials involve administering experimental drugs, topical treatments, immunotherapy treatments, or other interventions to participants to assess their efficacy in reducing symptoms, preventing outbreaks, or curing the infection.
By comparing the outcomes of the new interventions against standard treatments or placebos, researchers can determine their effectiveness, safety, and potential side effects. This approach helps advance treatment options, improve patient care, and contribute to a better understanding of herpes management.
Vaccine trials
Vaccine trials for herpes are used to develop and evaluate vaccines that could prevent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections or reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. In these trials, participants receive either the experimental vaccine or a placebo, and their immune responses to the vaccine are monitored.
Researchers assess the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing new infections or managing existing ones, while also evaluating its safety and potential side effects. By testing these vaccines, researchers aim to provide a preventive measure that could significantly reduce the incidence and impact of herpes, ultimately improving public health outcomes.
Interested in learning more about the duration and phases of vaccine clinical trials? Read all about the timelines, stages, and factors influencing the length of these trials in our guide.
Diagnostic trials
Herpes diagnosis is also an important consideration in medical research. Diagnostic trials can evaluate and improve methods for detecting herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections more accurately and efficiently. These trials involve testing new diagnostic tools or techniques, such as advanced molecular assays or rapid tests, and comparing their performance against existing methods.
Assessing the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of these new diagnostic approaches means researchers can enhance early detection and diagnosis of herpes, supporting better management of the virus.
Who can participate in herpes clinical trials?
It depends on the study. Herpes has no staging system, so trials recruit based on what they're testing. Antiviral studies usually want adults with a confirmed HSV diagnosis and a set number of outbreaks per year, often with daily at-home swabs for several weeks. Vaccine studies sometimes want people who don't have the virus at all. Some studies here focus on people with weakened immune systems, since herpes is harder to control and standard pills don't always work as well for them. Others study herpes as part of a wider virus family, so check which virus a study actually targets before you apply. Eligibility always varies by study.
Do herpes trial participants get paid?
Some studies offer compensation for time and travel, and study related care is typically provided at no cost to participants. Compensation varies by trial and is always described during the informed consent process before you agree to anything.
Curious whether clinical trials pay participants? Here's how compensation actually works.
How to enroll in a herpes clinical trial
Enrolling in a clinical trial studying herpes through our platform is a straightforward and user-friendly process. Here's how to get started:
- Identify Your Trial: Use our intuitive search bar or filter options to locate clinical trials specific to requirements. This first step simplifies the process of finding relevant research studies tailored to your needs.
- Select Your Preferred Location: To find trials conveniently located near you, simply input your preferred location into the dedicated filter bar on the left-hand side of the page.
- Explore Study Details: For in-depth information about each study, simply click the “Learn More” button. This will provide you with comprehensive details about the trial, including objectives, procedures, and eligibility criteria.
- Complete the Health Profile: After clicking on the “Get started” button you will be taken to our efficient 5-step application process to provide important health information. This helps us match you with the clinical trial that best fits your needs.
- Submit the Application: After completing the application, send it in. A clinical trial coordinator will review it and contact you regarding the possibility of participation.