valacyclovir / Generic mfg. - LARVOL DELTA

CAN-2409 With Continued Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) in Patients With Stage III/IV NSCLC With Inadequate Response to ICI (IASLC-WCLC 2025) - "Introduction : We previously reported local and systemic immune activation associated with encouraging overall survival (OS) data after two intra-tumoral injections of CAN-2409 plus prodrug (valacyclovir) in patients with unresectable, stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), after inadequate response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This data supports the rationale for a larger, randomized, controlled clinical trial of CAN-2409 in pts with non-squamous histology with advanced NSCLC, after progression on ICI. treatment."

Checkpoint inhibition • Clinical • IO biomarker • Lung Cancer • Lung Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

First report of safety/tolerability and preliminary antitumor activity of CAN-2409 in inadequate responders to immune checkpoint inhibitors for stage III/IV NSCLC. (ASCO 2022) - P2 | "Two doses of CAN-2409 (5x1011 vp) are given 5-7w apart via bronchoscopic or percutaneous injection into a lung tumor, disease-positive lymph node or peripheral metastasis, followed by valacyclovir...Median age was 70 years; 86% stage IV; 32% squamous; 11% PD-L1 >50%; 82% receiving pembrolizumab and 18% nivolumab... The addition of CAN-2409 for patients with advanced NSCLC and inadequate response to front-line ICI (± chemo) appears to be well tolerated. Preliminary clinical data suggest that CAN-2409 induced a clinical response in 4/14 evaluable patients and produced disease stabilization in most patients entering the trial with PD, with evidence of abscopal effect in a subset of patients."

Checkpoint inhibition • Clinical • IO biomarker • Fatigue • Immune Modulation • Inflammation • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor • CD8 • PD-L1

Stromal Keratitis in the Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS): Lessons Learned. (PubMed, Am J Ophthalmol) - "Individuals with ocular complications of HZO who develop SK generally maintain very good vision without use of oral antiviral therapy when monitored closely and SK is recognized and treated. Low potency topical steroids should be considered for treatment and ongoing suppression of SK in HZO."

Clinical • Journal • Herpes Zoster • Keratitis • Ocular Inflammation • Ophthalmology • Uveitis • Varicella Zoster • DKK1

Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of CAN-2409+prodrug in combination with standard of care external beam radiation (EBRT) for newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer. (ASCO 2025) - P3 | "CAN-2409 is a replication-defective adenovirus encoding the HSV-tk gene that, when combined with valacyclovir (prodrug), results in immunogenic cell death. In this randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial, CAN-2409 significantly reduced the risk of PrCa recurrence or death when added to SoC EBRT+/- ADT. The addition of CAN-2409 was not associated with significant added toxicity. These data represent the first potentially new therapy for patients with intermediate and high risk PrCa in over 20 years."

Clinical • Combination therapy • P3 data • Genito-urinary Cancer • Oncology • Prostate Cancer • Solid Tumor

ACYCLOVIR PROPHYLAXIS FOR VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS REACTIVATION IN HEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION RECIPIENTS: WHAT IS THE TRULY EFFECTIVE LOW DOSE? (EBMT 2026) - "The efficacy and safety of acyclovir/valacyclovir prophylaxis for VZV after transplantation are well established, although there is poor consensus on the dose and duration of prophylaxis. Current guidelines recommend acyclovir prophylaxis without a definite dosage. The meta-analysis of six studies with 3420 patients published by Seo et al."

Bone Marrow Transplantation • Hematological Malignancies • Herpes Zoster • Infectious Disease • Lymphoma • Multiple Myeloma • Transplantation • Varicella Zoster

CLINICAL IMPACT OF HERPES ZOSTER INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH PLASMA CELL DISORDERS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY (EBMT 2026) - "Among patients on prophylaxis, 79% received acyclovir and 21% received valacyclovir. The interplay between immune deficiency, recurrent infections, drug resistance, and disease progression underscores the need to further investigate prophylactic and immunotherapeutic strategies in MM. As MM requires long-term management, minimizing toxicity and improving quality of life should remain the main goals. The retrospective, single-center design caused missing data."

Retrospective data • Acute Myelogenous Leukemia • Amyloidosis • Aplastic Anemia • Hematological Malignancies • Herpes Zoster • Infectious Disease • Leukemia • Lymphoma • Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma • Multiple Myeloma • Neuralgia • Plasma Cell Leukemia • Plasmacytoma • Renal Disease • Solid Tumor • Varicella Zoster • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Characterization and Management of Non-Icans Neurologic Events after Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel in Multiple Myeloma (TCT-ASTCT-CIBMTR 2026) - "Of these 3 cases, 1 patient fully resolved with prednisone/dexamethasone/valacyclovir; CNP management was ongoing for the remaining 2 patients. In this real-world cohort, CNP, parkinsonism, and GBS were rare after cilta-cel infusion. Post- infusion peak ALCs were higher in patients with versus without non-ICANS NEs, suggesting peak ALC may be a biomarker to identify patients at risk for NEs and guide management strategies. All evaluable patients responded to cilta-cel despite experiencing non-ICANS NEs, and no deaths occurred."

CNS Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Movement Disorders • Multiple Myeloma • Parkinson's Disease

Results of the Phase II of Epirchop Study, Evaluating the Efficacy of Tazemetostat in Combination with R-CHOP in Elderly Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): A Lysa Study (ASH 2023) - P1/2 | "Prophylaxis with G-CSF, valaciclovir and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole were strongly recommended...In oct 2020, after the inclusion of 22 pts, recommendation to cap vincristine at 1mg was done, due to an excess of constipation... R-CHOP plus TAZ is doable. Efficacy results in this trial conducted during the COVID pandemic in a particularly challenging population, suggest that the combination warrant further investigation including correlative studies with molecular subclassification that will be presented."

Clinical • Combination therapy • P2 data • Acute Myelogenous Leukemia • Anemia • B Cell Lymphoma • Cardiovascular • Congestive Heart Failure • Constipation • Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma • Febrile Neutropenia • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Heart Failure • Hematological Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Infectious Disease • Leukemia • Lymphoma • Neutropenia • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma • Oncology • Septic Shock • Thrombocytopenia

Herpes Zoster of the Larynx: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge. (PubMed, Cureus) - "The patient was treated with valacyclovir and gabapentin, with resolution of odynophagia and mucosal lesions at one month, though mild dysphagia persisted. The scarcity of reported cases underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Early antiviral therapy is crucial to reduce complications, while endoscopic evaluation plays a key role in timely recognition."

Journal • Dysphonia • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Herpes Zoster • Infectious Disease • Neuralgia • Otorhinolaryngology • Pain • Varicella Zoster

Congenital symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection after valacyclovir treatment during pregnancy and negative amniotic fluid CMV PCR (ESCMID Global 2026) - No abstract available

Cytomegalovirus Infection • Infectious Disease

Comparison of Letermovir Versus High-Dose Valacyclovir for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (TCT-ASTCT-CIBMTR 2026) - "Prior studies comparing letermovir (LET) and high-dose valacyclovir (VAL) for CMV prophylaxis primarily included high-risk patients, such as those with haploidentical or mismatched unrelated donors receiving post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)...Tacrolimus/methotrexate was the most frequent GVHD prophylaxis (65%)... No significant difference was observed in CMV infection rates between LET and VAL prophylaxis, although the incidence trended lower with LET. LET was associated with a higher rate of HHV-6 reactivation. Rates of acute and chronic GVHD, as well as 6-month survival, did not differ between groups."

Acute Graft versus Host Disease • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia • Acute Myelogenous Leukemia • Bone Marrow Transplantation • Chronic Graft versus Host Disease • Cytomegalovirus Infection • Graft versus Host Disease • Hematological Malignancies • Immunology • Leukemia • Myelodysplastic Syndrome • Transplantation

Congenital CMV Infection: Determination of Transplacental Passage of Aciclovir by Ex Vivo Placental Perfusion. (PubMed, BJOG) - "The transplacental transfer of aciclovir is low. Despite aciclovir's low molecular weight and hydrophilicity, moderate plasma protein binding and rapid renal elimination may limit placental availability, and the observed transfer was lower than expected for passive diffusion, suggesting involvement of facilitated uptake or efflux mechanisms. These results support the current rationale for high-dose valaciclovir regimens in pregnancy and suggest a potential role for transporter-mediated drug transfer."

Journal • Preclinical • Cytomegalovirus Infection • Infectious Disease

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study on Transfer Factor Oral Solution in the Treatment of Herpes Zoster (ChiCTR) - P4 | N=90 | Recruiting | Sponsor: Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University; Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University

New P4 trial • Herpes Zoster • Varicella Zoster

Neurotoxicity from acyclovir and valacyclovir in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: Still rare, but still present. (PubMed, Perit Dial Int) - "Despite decades of clinical experience and numerous reports, acyclovir and valacyclovir-induced neurotoxicity continue to occur in patients with severe renal impairment. This report underscores the importance of dose adjustment and close monitoring, emphasizing that neurotoxicity, although rare, can occur even at apparently safe doses in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis."

Journal • Anorexia • Ataxia • Chronic Kidney Disease • Herpes Zoster • Infectious Disease • Movement Disorders • Nephrology • Psychomotor Agitation • Renal Disease • Varicella Zoster

Antenatal Imaging and Neonatal Outcome in Infants with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: The Effect of Valaciclovir. (PubMed, J Clin Med) - " Valacyclovir may reduce, but does not eliminate, the risk of cCMV transmission. Negative amniocentesis does not fully exclude fetal infection, highlighting postnatal follow-up."

Journal • Cytomegalovirus Infection • Infectious Disease

Association between Herpes Simplex Virus Serostatus and Non-Relapse Mortality, Relapse, and Relapse-Related Mortality Among Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients (TCT-ASTCT-CIBMTR 2026) - "Prophylaxis was twice daily acyclovir (800mg) or valacyclovir (500mg) for at least one year. HSV-1 seropositive patients had a significantly higher hazard of relapse and RRM compared to seronegative patients, even after accounting for known risk factors for relapse and mortality. Neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 were associated with NRM. Further studies are needed to better understand this association."

Clinical • Acute Graft versus Host Disease • Bone Marrow Transplantation • Cytomegalovirus Infection • Graft versus Host Disease • Herpes Simplex • Immunology • Transplantation

Oral Herpesviruses and Oral Mucositis in Patients Receiving Head and Neck Radiotherapy (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=84 | Enrolling by invitation | Sponsor: Instituto Oncoclinicas

New P2 trial • Head and Neck Cancer • Mucositis • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Stomatitis

Nationwide Adherence to Bell's Palsy Clinical Practice Guidelines: Retrospective Analysis Using a Large-Scale EHR Database. (PubMed, Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) - "Following the publication of the AAO guidelines, early steroid use for Bell's palsy improved significantly. However, the concurrent rise in imaging and laboratory testing-practices explicitly discouraged by the guidelines-highlights ongoing gaps in adherence and suggests areas for further provider education and quality improvement."

Clinical guideline • Journal • Retrospective data • CNS Disorders • Lyme Disease • Otorhinolaryngology

Charting the research frontier for viral infections, immunomodulation, and dementia: a perspective on synaptic biomarkers as essential clinical trial endpoints. (PubMed, Front Cell Infect Microbiol) - "While large observational and quasi-experimental studies suggest antivirals and vaccines reduce long-term dementia risk, the first major antiviral randomized controlled trial (Valacyclovir for Alzheimer's Disease) was negative...A strategic framework is proposed, centered on the mandatory inclusion of CSF synaptic biomarkers and relevant co-pathology markers like TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43; a proteinopathy linked to viral triggers) in all antiviral and vaccine trials. This approach is critical to resolve existing paradoxes, elucidate mechanisms of neuroprotection, and accelerate developing effective therapies that preserve synaptic integrity to prevent and treat dementia."

Biomarker • Journal • Review • Alzheimer's Disease • CNS Disorders • Dementia • Herpes Simplex • Herpes Zoster • Immunology • Infectious Disease • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Proteinopathy • Respiratory Diseases • Varicella Zoster • TARDBP • YWHAG

A Delayed Acute Vestibular Syndrome and Diplopia in Ramsay Hunt Syndrome With Absent Facial Nerve Paralysis After Partially Treated Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) Oticus. (PubMed, Cureus) - "Following sequential antiviral therapy (intravenous acyclovir followed by oral valacyclovir) and corticosteroids, diplopia and nystagmus resolved within one week with substantial gait improvement by four weeks. Prompt antiviral and corticosteroid therapy can prevent permanent sequelae such as sensorineural hearing loss or neurotrophic keratitis. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for VZV-related cranial polyneuropathy in older adults with acute vestibular syndrome after recent zoster, even in the complete absence of facial palsy."

Journal • CNS Disorders • Herpes Zoster • Inflammation • Keratitis • Ocular Inflammation • Ophthalmology • Otorhinolaryngology • Pain • Varicella Zoster

Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block With Steroid and Local Anesthetic for Acute Herpes Zoster: Effects on Pain Control and Prevention of Postherpetic Neuralgia (clinicaltrials.gov) - P3 | N=100 | Completed | Sponsor: Assiut University

New P3 trial • Anesthesia • Herpes Zoster • Neuralgia • Pain • Varicella Zoster

Combined cytotoxic and immune-stimulatory gene therapy for primary adult high-grade glioma: a phase 1, first-in-human trial. (PubMed, Lancet Oncol) - P1 | "The combination of two adenoviral vectors demonstrated safety and feasibility in patients with high-grade glioma and warrants further investigation in a phase 1b/2 clinical trial."

Gene therapy • Journal • P1 data • Brain Cancer • Cardiovascular • CNS Tumor • Ependymoma • Gene Therapies • Glioblastoma • Glioma • Gliosarcoma • Infectious Disease • Oncology • Respiratory Diseases • Sarcoma • Solid Tumor

Managing Infections, Hypogammaglobulinemia, and Neutropenia During Treatment With Teclistamab in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Nurse-Led Experience From the MajesTEC-1 Study (IMW 2023) - "At our institutions, all patients treated with teclistamab were up to date with vaccinations (eg, COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal) and received acyclovir or valacyclovir prophylaxis; additional antimicrobials (eg, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis) were given per individual center guidelines. Teclistamab should not be given in case of any active infection; therefore, partnership between nurses, physicians, and patients is essential to facilitate prompt identification, monitoring, and management of infections, including appropriate use of antimicrobial prophylaxis, IVIG, and G-CSF. In particular, we recommend that patients are educated on the importance of reporting early signs and symptoms of infections, and that nurses and care teams are prepared and trained to implement appropriate infection management strategies."

Cough • Cytomegalovirus Infection • Hematological Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Hepatitis B • Hepatology • Infectious Disease • Inflammation • Influenza • Multiple Myeloma • Neutropenia • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Oncology • Pneumococcal Infections • Pneumonia • Respiratory Diseases

Overall survival after treatment with CAN-2409 plus valacyclovir in combination with continued ICI in patients with stage III/IV NSCLC with an inadequate response to ICI. (ASCO 2024) - P2 | "Baseline treated pt median age was 67 [43-88] yrs, 44% female, 68% on aPD(L)1 alone and 32% aPD(L)1 + pemetrexed regimen. Experimental treatment with CAN-2409+valacyclovir in NSCLC pts following an inadequate response to ICI is well tolerated and results in the induction of a cytotoxic and memory circulating T cell response associated with shrinkage of injected and uninjected lesions and a raised tail of the survival curve. mOS of the evaluable population was estimated as 22.0m, markedly longer than the expected mOS of 11.6-14.5m."

Clinical • Combination therapy • IO biomarker • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor • CD4 • CD8 • GZMB • IFNG

Concurrent Varicella and Herpes Zoster in an Adult Caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus: A Case Report. (PubMed, Cureus) - "The patient was treated with oral valacyclovir and supportive care, resulting in marked clinical improvement...Although varicella is less common in adults, its coexistence with herpes zoster underscores the importance of early recognition and timely initiation of antiviral therapy. Further studies are warranted to better understand the pathophysiology and optimal management of such dual VZV presentations."

Journal • Herpes Zoster • Infectious Disease • Varicella Zoster