A Phase I Study Assessing Safety and Tolerability of a DNA Vaccine With a DNA Encoded Immunostimulator , Administered by Particle Mediated Epidermal Delivery Using the PowderMed ND10 Delivery System in HSV-2 Seronegative Healthy Volunteers

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is a serious public health problem, with up to 20% of the US population infected. Following primary infection, HSV-2 establishes a latent infection that can lead to recurrent disease when the virus reactivates. Genital lesions are often experienced with viral recurrence and these can be uncomfortable and painful, resulting in significant anxiety and social distress. There are no commercial vaccines available for therapy of HSV-2 infection.The aim of a therapeutic vaccine would be to enhance such natural responses by boosting the appropriate cellular immune response to HSV-2 in those latently infected individuals who experience frequent and unwanted reactivations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability profile of a therapeutic DNA vaccine (pPJV7630) in combination with a DNA encoded immunostimulator (pPJV2012) when administered by Particle Mediated Epidermal Delivery (PMED)