A new dual action treatment can stop cold sores - Xerclear launched today

Over two million Swedish people are regularly affected by cold sores.1 The problem is characterized by lesions, vesicles and tenderness. Xerclear—the first and only cream with a label that states it can prevent both the incidence of cold sores and shorten healing times if cold sores appear despite treatment—is now being launched.(2) Xerclear is available on prescription.

“Cold sores can be troublesome, especially if you get them often. Until now, sufferers have been offered pharmaceuticals that shorten healing times, but in clinical trials none of them have been shown to actually prevent the development of cold sore ulcers. Xerclear is a welcome addition of treatment options for everyone who gets labial herpes (cold sores). Obviously, avoiding a cold sore is the biggest possible benefit for patients,” commented Anders Strand, Consultant at Uppsala University Hospital Skin Clinic.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and the body’s inflammatory reaction triggered by it. Xerclear is the first and only treatment alternative that treats both causes and contains acyclovir (50 mg/g) that inhibits virus growth and hydrocortisone (10 mg/g) that reduces the inflammation. Dual action Xerclear cream is unique of its type.

 Four out of ten people avoid cold sores completely
Clinical data shows that four out of ten Xerclear users avoid a cold sore completely if they start treatment when the first symptoms occur. No other cold sore pharmaceutical has the corresponding label stating that the incidence of cold sore outbreaks can be prevented with early treatment onset. (2)

Healing time shortens
For cold sores ulcers that develop despite treatment, healing times are shortened compared to placebo, and the cold sore crust and tenderness are also alleviated. (3)

Xerclear® —available on prescription
Xerclear cream is approved for treating adults and young people aged 12 and over. The pharmaceutical was approved by the Swedish Medical Products Agency late last year and is now available on prescription in 5g tubes. For best results, treatment with Xerclear should start as soon as possible after the first symptoms of a herpes outbreak (tingling, irritation and redness). Xerclear should be applied five times a day for five days, about every three to four hours during waking hours.

Xerclear® —a result of Swedish research
Xerclear is the result of research and development by Medivir in Stockholm. Medivir is active in the research and development of pharmaceuticals against a range of diseases including hepatitis C, osteoporosis, HIV and shingles. The company has several partnerships with established pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech enterprises, on clinical and preclinical projects. Xerclear is the first pharmaceutical Medivir has developed in-house and that it is now launching.

1 “Cold Sores”, a folder published by Apoteket, the Swedish national pharmacy corporation, in 2007

2 Xerclear product resume, latest version, 20 November 2009

3 C. Hull. Episodic Treatment with Topical ACV/Hydrocortisone Prevents Cold Sores: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Patient-Initiated Clinical Trial. Poster Presentation 49th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco, USA (2009) and data on file. 

For questions on Xerclear®, please contact

Eva Arlander, Marketing Director, Medivir. Tel: +46 (0)8 546 83121 or +46 (0)70 255 6855.
E-mail: eva.arlander@medivir.com

Stefan Mårtensson, Product Manager, Xerclear, Medivir. Tel: +46 (0)70 816 8476.
E-mail: stefan.martensson@medivir.com

For more information on cold sores, go to www.munsar.info

A presentation of Medivir is available at www.medivir.se