Theralase Uncovers Electrostatic Binding Achieving 8-Log HSV-1 Reduction at 1.3 µM
Theralase found that Ruvidar® binds electrostatically to negatively charged HSV-1 particles, neutralizing surface charge and achieving an 8-log (99.999999%) reduction in viral titer at 1.3 µM concentration. The company plans to begin preclinical and clinical development of a topical HSV-1 treatment in 2026.
1. New Mechanism Discovered
Theralase’s research team demonstrated that Ruvidar® binds to HSV-1 via electrostatic attraction, neutralizing the virus’s negative surface charge as measured by zeta potential shifts in aqueous solutions.
2. Potent Viral Inactivation
In vitro tests showed that 1.3 µM Ruvidar® achieved an 8-log reduction in HSV-1 virion count, representing a 99.999999% decrease in infective virus population and near-complete viral destruction.
3. Development Timeline
Theralase plans to initiate preclinical and clinical development for a topical HSV-1 therapy in 2026, aiming to address a global treatment market projected to expand from $2.8 billion in 2024 to $4.7 billion by 2033.