Lack of news coverage has denied millions of herpes patients the opportunity to improve their health

The global health crisis ignited by SARS-CoV-2, known to many as COVID-19, has been endlessly devastating – as of June 2021, there have been more than 175 million confirmed cases and nearly 4 million deaths. And emerging virus variants (most recently Delta ) continue to pose grave new risks to people all over the world. But amid the chaos and tragedy, the scientific community united to achieve a historic feat – the creation of several efficacious COVID-19 vaccines in a year’s time.

To contextualize the magnitude of this accomplishment, it’s important to understand the typical vaccine development cycle. In most cases, it can take upwards of 15 years to complete every stage of the development process, including clinical trials, government approvals, production, and distribution. To finish this process in 5 years is impressive. To cross the finish line in just one year is mind-blowing.

Scientists were largely aided by decades of research into the genetic makeup of MERS, SARS, and other coronaviruses, and also into messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Whereas most vaccines require injecting weakened viral proteins into patients’ bodies, mRNA vaccines include instructions to help cells produce proteins that can trigger an immune response against a specific virus or disease. Thus, mRNA vaccines were much easier to produce and test. As a result, the first two COVID-19 vaccines to receive emergency approval in the U.S. were mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech, and Moderna.

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Even with approved vaccines that didn’t use mRNA technology (e.g., AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which uses an adenovirus to carry a coronavirus gene into human cells), developers still benefitted from record amounts of funding, faster manufacturing techniques, looser regulations, and parallel clinical trials.

Nations that have vaccinated large swaths of their populations have seen deaths and case counts drop and economies rebound. Rightfully so, this has been, and will likely continue to be, the biggest global health story for some time. But with so much focus on the novel coronavirus, other incredible medical stories have failed to garner deserved attention. Among them is great news for herpes sufferers – the virus finally has a cure.

Alternative medicine breaks through

Though many have tried, only one company has found success in treating herpes. Synergy Pharmaceuticals, a company that operates out of Singapore and Australia, has used its Combination Herpes Treatment to stop outbreaks and wipe out the virus. The treatment consists of five natural ingredients – Rhodiola, L-Lysine, a Unique Amino Formula, Astragalus, and Tribulus. This combo helps the body generate T cells. Those T cells destroy herpes’ viral envelope, weakening the virus to the point that it can’t infect other cells. Eventually, it dies out completely.

The majority of genital herpes patients tested negative for both strains of herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) after taking the alternative treatment for either 4, 5, or 6 months, according to Synergy’s clinical trial results. All of the trials’ subjects had been infected for several years, but after treatment, they exhibited no further symptoms or outbreaks. Blood tests at a later date showed that they still tested negative.

Before this treatment, herpes sufferers relied on antivirals, which mainly reduce outbreaks and symptoms and are only 50% effective at stopping transmission. Unlike the novel coronavirus, herpes stops antibodies from binding to it, which makes it difficult for traditional medicine to be effective. The Combination Herpes Treatment is the first to stop the virus altogether, offering greater efficacy across HSV-1 and HSV-2 and eliminating the side effects commonly associated with pharmaceutical suppressants. Surely, there are millions of herpes patients who could benefit from this news, but there are many companies that are less excited.

A profitable business interrupted

The quest for a herpes vaccine has been dogged by several high-profile failures, including shuttered programs from Genocea and Vical Incorporated and alleged wrongdoing at Rational Vaccines. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies have tried their hand at therapeutic vaccines, preventative vaccines, and even gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9. Thus, Synergy’s treatment seems like the success story the scientific community has been clamoring for.

But Synergy’s alternative medication could be a thorn in the side of big business. Around the globe, the vaccine industry generates an estimated $59.2 billion annually. Clearly, they play a critical role in suppressing and eradicating infectious diseases. However, sales of vaccines aren’t purely altruistic. For the companies who own the treatments, they’re also powerful moneymakers.

As an example, look to Merck and the outsized role it plays in treating measles. Only Merck has the rights to sell vaccines for measles in America. It offers three – Varivax, ProdQuad, and MMR II – and they pull in a hefty $1.4 billion every year. If a company attempted to sell a holistic treatment that worked, there’s no question that Merck would use its influence and resources to take that product offline, by either buying the company and stopping production or taking legal action.

When considering why Synergy Pharmaceuticals’ herpes cure hasn’t garnered more press, it’s the business of vaccines that comes into play. Though COVID-19 has rightly held the world’s attention, Synergy’s holistic treatment has also posed a major threat for manufacturers of antiviral drugs and for companies like Genocea, Vical Incorporated, and Rational Vaccines, who are pursuing herpes vaccine development in the hopes of a lucrative payday. If there’s an affordable, direct order treatment that cures the virus, why would any herpes patient pay for a vaccine or agree to another prescription?

As of yet, news of a herpes cure hasn’t spread far and wide, clearing the way for pharmaceutical companies to continue vaccine development, CRISPR/Cas9 trials, and sales of antivirals. But this raises an important question – shouldn’t the health of herpes patients be first and foremost? If there’s a viable way to help them stop symptoms and outbreaks and lead overall happier lives, shouldn’t they have access to the information? Yes, vaccines and treatments are part of a multi-billion-dollar industry, but there’s also an obligation to share information with patients, give them opportunities, and allow them to make the best decisions for their health.

Recently, Synergy Pharmaceuticals has come under new ownership, and with a greater investment of capital, there may be a way forward to not only spread word of the Combination Herpes Treatment but take it mainstream and position it as a go-to option over antivirals. Herpes sufferers may not be denied the news they’ve been waiting for much longer.