Penciclovir cream for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Topical Penciclovir Collaborative Study Group.

Abstract

Penciclovir cream is the first treatment to clearly demonstrate an impact on the course of recurrent herpes labialis in immunocompetent patients. Efficacy was seen in all clinical and laboratory measures of the disease (lesion healing, pain resolution, and cessation of viral shedding). Faster healing and pain resolution occurred both among patients who first applied penciclovir cream in the prodrome and erythema stages and among those who started treatment in the papule and vesicle lesion stages.