A comparison of topical application of penciclovir 1% cream with acyclovir3% cream for treatment of genital herpes: a randomized, double-blind, multicentre trial

Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, a sexually transmitted diseas e (STD), is the commonest cause of ulcerative genital infections among the young and adult population. The significant association of genital ulcerati on and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been shown in many studies. To explore the potential efficacy of topical treatment of ge nital herpes with penciclovir cream, a randomized, double-blind, multicentr e, acyclovir-controlled Phase II clinical trial of penciclovir 1% cream 5 t imes daily up to 7 days for suppression of genital herpes was conducted in China. A total of 205 patients aged 20-59 years (mean age 36.0+/-8.8 years for acyclovir and 34.8+/-8.4 years for penciclovir) with a clinical diagnos is of genital herpes were randomly allocated to one of the 2 parallel treat ment groups and used for analysis. Clinical assessment were made before tre atment and followed up at every visit during the study. Our results show th at there was an encouraging improvement simultaneously in the 2 groups alth ough no significant differences in clinical efficacy with respect to clinic al cure rate, and times to healing, resolution of all symptoms, absence of blisters, cessation of new blisters, crusting, and loss of crust between pe nciclovir and acyclovir groups in terms of primary, non-primary and total p atients were found. However a significantly shorter time to crusting was fo und in primary penciclovir group when compared with primary acyclovir group . Adverse experience was generally infrequent and mild, and was comparable in the 2 treatment groups. Based on these preliminary clinical findings, fu rther evaluation of penciclovir 3% cream for topical treatment of genital h erpes is planned.