Can a common antiviral tame herpes meningitis?
NCT ID NCT05452928
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether the antiviral drug aciclovir (or its pill form valacyclovir) works better than a placebo for treating meningitis caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). About 150 adults with confirmed HSV-2 meningitis will receive either the drug or a placebo, and their symptoms will be scored after 7 days. The goal is to see if the drug speeds up recovery and reduces symptoms like headache, fever, and neck stiffness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Aciclovir (also known as valacyclovir)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could confirm that aciclovir effectively reduces symptoms of HSV-2 meningitis, providing a standard treatment option.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small Phase 4 trial, and the benefit over placebo may be modest. The primary endpoint is a symptom score, not a cure, and results may not apply to all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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