New Treatment for Herpes Infections

A new molecule called BX795 appears to have an effect against herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection of the corneal tissue of the eye. The anti-herpes effect of the molecule BX795 was an accidental discovery. Given its mechanism of action of being a TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) inhibitor, it was expected to promote the herpes virus infection; however, it produced the opposite effect when used in higher concentrations.