Scientists Frustrated in Search for Genital Herpes Vaccine

Halford is specifically investigating a protein in HSV called ICP0. "If I take away the gene that codes for that protein, the virus is really weakened," he said.

The approach is controversial, but Corey believes it could have promise. "I certainly think that the live attenuated virus is a viable approach to talk about," he said.

Funding will be the real challenge, however, whatever the vaccine strategy. According to Corey, a series of expensive failures over the past two decades has dampened the enthusiasm of industry to invest in HSV vaccine research.

"I can give my own scenario in which we worked with [drug maker] Chiron and spent seven years and alotof money -- decapitalizing the company by 25 percent -- on an antibody-based vaccine," Corey said. "At the time, we thought it would be sufficient to work, but it didn't."

So, with the private sector waiting on the sidelines, public funding becomes key.

"I think there needs to be more money from the publicly funded institutions -- whether they be foundations, the NIH or the National Research Council, in vaccine development," Corey said.

"We also need to do more in defining a real path of success for a genital herpes vaccine," he added. "Once some pathway of success becomes defined, then you'll see the pharmaceutical companies move forward."

More information

Find out more about genital herpes at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

SOURCES: Lawrence Corey, M.D., professor, medicine and laboratory medicine, and head, program of infectious diseases and virology division, department of medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; Lawrence Stanberry, M.D., Ph.D., director, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston; William Halford, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of veterinary and molecular biology, Montana State University, Bozeman