Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Against Chronic Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Infection

In this trial, patients with chronic recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infections (with at least 4 herpes lesions in the last 12 months or at least 2 herpes lesions with previous valaciclovir long-term therapy) can be included.

After signature of ICF and during the screening period, the patients take daily swabs of the anogenital area for 28 days to determine HSV shedding.

Patients not developing a lesion within 4 months after screening are not randomised. Patients developing a lesion within 4 months can be randomised and the treatment must be initiated within 72 Hours upon lesion occurence.

Approximately 125 patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to one of the following treatment groups:

• Arm A: single HDIT i.v. infusion applied over 1 hour at the randomization visit + episodic treatment with 500 mg Valaciclovir-placebo orally bid for 3 days.
• Arm B: single HDIT placebo i.v. infusion applied over 1 hour at the randomization visit + episodic treatment with 500 mg Valaciclovir orally bid for 3 days.

The HDIT101/HDIT101-placebo infusion is only applied once during the trial, Valaciclovir (or corresponding placebo) has to be taken upon every occurence of another Herpes lesion.

Study duration per Patient will be 180 days starting with the randomization visit. In addition to the randomization visit, 4 visits at the site and 2 phone calls are scheduled.

In case of developing another lesion after the randomization visit, patients take a single swab of the lesion and episodic SoC treatment with Valaciclovir/ Valaciclovir-placebo is started and documented in an electronic diary by the patient within 24 hours after development of first symptoms. Quality of life is also recorded.

In addition to this, the patients need to present at the site within 72 hours after occurence of a the new herpes outbreak for medical examination and to confirm the HSV-2 lesion. At this unscheduled visit at the site, the PI will take a second swab and assess the lesion (including start date). Another unscheduled visit will take place upon healing of lesion.

This procedure will be repeated for every outbreak during the trial.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years at the time of signing informed consent.
• Signed informed consent for participation in the study.
• Understanding, ability, and willingness to fully comply with study interventions and restrictions.
• Seropositive for HSV-2.
• History of chronic recurrent anogenital HSV-2 infection with ≥ 4 outbreaks (≥ 2 under standard suppressive antiviral therapy) in the last year with no active lesion at time of enrolment. Patients with acute lesion(s) can be enrolled when the previous lesion is healed off.
• No use of any HSV-suppressant therapy (both approved drugs and non-approved drugs including OTC drugs) including topical applications at least 7 days prior to enrolment.
• Willingness to not use any topical or systemic anti-HSV therapy (both approved drugs and non-approved drugs including OTC) during the study apart from the study medication.
• Willingness to not use any topical HSV treatment upon lesion development as well as avoid any manipulation or physical impact, e.g., cooling of the lesion particularly in the prodromal stage.
• Medical assessment with no clinically significant morbidities or abnormalities as per judgement of the investigator.
• Women of child-bearing potential (WCBP) must have a negative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) urine and/or blood test at screening and within 72 hours before receiving study treatment.
• Willingness to use two independent effective contraceptive methods for 3 months after Visit 1. Male participants and partners of female participants have to use a condom during sexual intercourse or intimacy to reduce the probability of sexually transmitted infection.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who do not develop a lesion during the 28-day swabbing period and 3 months (90 days) afterwards (i.e., within 4 months after screening).
• Medical history or current physical illnesses/medical conditions that constitute an unacceptable risk for study participation in the judgment of the investigator (e.g., clinically significant autoimmune disorder, active infection, uncontrolled medical conditions or organ system dysfunction that, in the investigator's opinion, could compromise the patient's safety or put the study outcomes at risk, such as uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled coronary heart disease, uncontrolled psychiatric condition).
• Patients with herpes keratitis.
• Immunomodulatory therapy including topical (e.g., rectal, vaginal, cutaneous, etc.) and/or oral and/or parenteral and/or inhaling steroids within 28 days before start of study treatment.
• Any condition that precludes the sampling of up to 200 mL (additional 150 mL in case of optional participation for exploratory objective (T-cell response)) blood over the duration of the study.
• Known resistance to or intolerance of valaciclovir or active substance or excipients of the study medication.
• Positive HIV antibody screen, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection screen, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screen.
• Any known history of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions.
• Participation in any clinical study within the last 30 days prior to enrolment.
• Prior participation in this or other clinical study with HDIT101.
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
• Prior malignant disease except basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ which has been successfully cured more than 5 years before enrolment.
• Hemoglobin (Hb) < 10 g/dL.
• Creatinine (Crea) clearance (Cl) < 40 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault equation will be used)
• Bilirubin > upper limit of normal (ULN) x 2, except patients with known Morbus Meulengracht.
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > ULN x 3.