Novartis receives FDA approval for Famvir to treat recurrent genital herpes

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 28 - The Food and Drug Administration approved Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s prescription Famvir (famciclovir) tablets as a single-day treatment for immunocompetent patients with recurrent genital herpes.

The FDA also approved Famvir as a single-dose treatment for recurrent herpes labialis (cold sores) in immunocompetent patients.

Results from a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing single-day Famvir (1,000 mg orally twice) with a placebo showed that Famvir significantly reduced lesions by almost two days.

In addition, the proportion of patients with aborted lesions was significantly larger in the Famvir group (23%) as compared to a placebo (13%).

"Famvir is the first and only antiviral approved to treat recurrent genital herpes in a single day," vice president of respiratory, dermatology and infectious diseases Gregory Geba said in a company news release.

"The new data demonstrates that Famvir can minimize a recurrent genital herpes outbreak and stop symptoms such as pain and burning, in a median of less than a day."

East Hanover, N.J.-based Novartis develops, manufactures and markets prescription drugs.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.