Herpes treatment gets market authorisation from US regulator

A herpes treatment has been given market authorisation by the US FDA.

A new treatment for herpes labialis has been given market authorisation from the US Food and Drugs Administration.
Sitavig is a mucoadhesive tablet that is placed on the gum to deliver a high concentration of acyclovir directly to the site of infection, BioAlliance Pharma revealed.
A phase III clinical trial across 775 patients taking the treatment showed a high level of efficacy in terms of healing time and tolerance, with participants administered a single tablet containing 50mg of acyclovir.
It is estimated that around 15 per cent of the adult population is affected by herpes labialis, including 40 million people in the US alone.
Professor Stephen Tyring, of the dermatology department at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, explained the importance of creating an effective treatment for a condition that is so widespread.
He said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this development which will allow patients once the product is on the market to have a drug that meets their needs."