5 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This is an open-label, single center, pharmacokinetic (PK) study to assess valacyclovir pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in neonates and compare to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the standard of care treatment dose of intravenous acyclovir. 6 (up to 10 infants) with virologically confirmed neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) disease who meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. Study duration is 5 years. Primary objective is to define the pharmacokinetics of valacyclovir and assess its safety in neonates 2-12 weeks of age who are ≥ 34 weeks gestation.
This study is to identify if a Novel Antiviral Drug could be used to treat babies with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) with central nervous system (CNS) disease. In this study the investigators will identify the best dose for young children as well as identify additional safety information about the Novel Antiviral Drug.
A Phase 1 study that will determine the valacyclovir dose that results in a systemic acyclovir exposure comparable to 10 mg/kg of parenterally administered acyclovir, which is an AUC0-12 of 24,000 ngxhr/mL to 48,000 ngxhr/mL. Neonates at risk of acquiring neonatal HSV will be enrolled in one of 2 cohorts. Cohort 1 will be comprised of eight subjects who will receive an initial dose of 10ml/kg of oral valacyclovir. Samples for PK assessments will be obtained to assess the exposure concentration. If the safety profile and the drug exposure concentrations in Cohort 1 are acceptable, eight new subjects will be enrolled in Cohort 2. The dose that these subjects will receive will be predicated upon the pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 1.
The purpose of this study to look at the antibodies (proteins from the body's infection fighting system) in the blood of babies delivered by women who are participants in the Herpevac Trial for Women, and who were vaccinated with either two or three doses of (GlaxoSmithKline) GSK candidate vaccine gD2t/alum-MPL or hepatitis A vaccine. The goal of this study is to compare the herpes or hepatitis A antibody levels of the newborns to those of their mothers, and to see how much of the antibodies are still present in the baby at two and six months after birth. Approximately 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of the mother's blood will be collected at the time of delivery or within 15 days before or after delivery. Approximately 2 teaspoons of blood will be collected from the child's umbilical cord at the time of delivery, or 1 teaspoon (3-5 ml) of the child's blood will be drawn within 15 days after birth. Optional blood draws from babies may occur 2 and 6 months after birth.
Acyclovir is a drug used to treat herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in babies. Appropriate dosing of acyclovir is known for adults and children but acyclovir has not been adequately studied in full-term or premature neonates. HSV is a very serious infection in babies \<6 months of age and often results in death or profound mental retardation. HSV leads to profound mental retardation in young infants because the virus attacks the central nervous system. The investigators hypothesize that the currently recommended dose of acyclovir is inadequate to produce adequate blood levels to combat herpes simplex infection. The investigators propose to study acyclovir levels in the blood of babies who are placed on acyclovir to treat a suspected HSV infection. This will allow them to determine the appropriate dose in premature infants. This is an unmet public health need because it is likely that the drug behaves differently in premature infants than it does in term infants and older children. Premature babies have more body water and less body tissue. Their kidneys are more immature and do not function as well as full term infants. Premature neonates are also at the greatest risk from herpes infection because they have poorly functioning immature immune systems. Early and appropriate treatment with acyclovir has resulted in improved outcome in term infants.