HSV 1 Keratitis- Pipeline Insight, 2026

DelveInsight's, "Hsv-1-Keratitis- Pipeline Insight, 2026" report provides comprehensive insights about 3+ companies and 3+ pipeline drugs in Hsv-1-Keratitis pipeline landscape. It covers the pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and nonclinical stage products. It also covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this

space.

Geography Covered:

• Global coverage

Hsv-1-Keratitis: Understanding

Hsv-1-Keratitis: Overview

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis is a common and potentially sight-threatening infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is one of the leading infectious causes of corneal blindness worldwide. The disease typically arises either from a primary infection or, more commonly, reactivation of latent HSV-1, which initially infects epithelial tissues and then remains dormant in the trigeminal ganglion for life. Upon reactivation, the virus travels back to the cornea, causing recurrent inflammation and tissue damage.

The cause of HSV keratitis is infection with HSV-1 (and less commonly HSV-2), usually transmitted through direct contact, with many ocular episodes representing reactivation of a prior infection rather than new exposure. The pathophysiology involves viral entry into corneal epithelial cells, replication using host cellular machinery, and spread to adjacent cells, followed by latency and periodic reactivation; recurrent episodes trigger immune-mediated inflammation, leading to corneal scarring and vision loss.

Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on patient history and characteristic findings on slit-lamp examination, although confirmatory tests such as PCR, viral culture, or immunoassays may be used in certain cases. Treatment focuses on controlling viral replication and inflammation using topical and systemic antiviral medications (e.g., acyclovir, ganciclovir), sometimes combined with corticosteroids in stromal disease, while severe cases may require surgical intervention; however, there is no definitive cure, and recurrence is common.

Treatment focuses on reducing viral replication and controlling inflammation, primarily using topical and systemic antiviral therapies, sometimes combined with corticosteroids in stromal disease, along with prophylactic antiviral therapy in recurrent cases to prevent relapse.

" Hsv-1-Keratitis - Pipeline Insight, 2026" report by DelveInsight outlays comprehensive insights of present scenario and growth prospects across the indication. A detailed picture of the Hsv-1-Keratitis pipeline landscape is provided which includes the disease overview and Hsv-1-Keratitis treatment guidelines. The assessment part of the report embraces, in depth Hsv-1-Keratitis commercial assessment and clinical assessment of the pipeline products under development. In the report, detailed description of the drug is given which includes mechanism of action of the drug, clinical studies, NDA approvals (if any), and product development activities comprising the technology, Hsv-1-Keratitis collaborations, licensing, mergers and acquisition, funding, designations and other product related details.

Report Highlights:

• The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Hsv-1-Keratitis R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve Frontotemporal Dementia.

Hsv-1-Keratitis Emerging Drugs Chapters

This segment of the Hsv-1-Keratitis report encloses its detailed analysis of various drugs in different stages of clinical development, including phase II, I, preclinical and Discovery. It also helps to understand clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, and the latest news and press releases.

Hsv-1-Keratitis Emerging Drugs

• BD111: BDgene Therapeutics

BD111, developed by BDgene Therapeutics, is an investigational CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing therapy being developed for the treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis. BD111 utilizes a proprietary VLP-mRNA (viroid-like particle mRNA) delivery system to transport Cas9 mRNA and guide RNA into infected cells, where it directly targets and cleaves the HSV-1 viral genome, thereby aiming to eliminate latent virus reservoirs rather than just suppress replication. This mechanism represents a potential curative approach, as conventional antivirals only inhibit viral replication without removing latent virus.The drug is specifically being developed for herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), a severe ocular condition caused by HSV-1 and a leading cause of infectious blindness. BD111 has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation which supports its development for this rare condition and may accelerate regulatory progress. BD111 is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, including a Phase I study assessing safety and tolerability and an ongoing Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating efficacy and safety in patients with HSV-1 stromal keratitis.

• EBT-104: Excision BioTherapeutics

EBT-104, developed by the Excision BioTherapeutics, is an investigational CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing therapy being developed as a potential curative treatment for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratitis. EBT-104 utilizes a CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system delivered via an AAV vector to directly target and inactivate latent HSV-1 DNA within infected cells. Its mechanism of action involves editing and disrupting essential viral genes (such as ICP0 and ICP27), thereby eliminating latent viral reservoirs and preventing recurrence, which is a key limitation of existing antiviral therapies that only suppress viral replication. The drug is specifically being developed for HSV-1 keratitis (herpetic stromal keratitis), a major cause of corneal blindness worldwide, and represents a novel disease-modifying approach aimed at curing the infection rather than managing symptoms. EBT-104 is currently in the preclinical stage, with multiple company presentations and publications reporting in vitro and in vivo (animal model) data showing significant reduction or near elimination of viral shedding, supporting its advancement toward future human trials.

Hsv-1-Keratitis: Therapeutic Assessment

This segment of the report provides insights about the different Hsv-1-Keratitis drugs segregated based on following

parameters that define the scope of the report, such as:

• Major Players in Hsv-1-Keratitis

There are approx. 3+ key companies which are developing the therapies Hsv-1-Keratitis. The companies which have their Hsv-1-Keratitis drug candidates in the most advanced stage, i.e. Phase II include, BDgene Therapeutics, and others.

• Phases

DelveInsight's report covers around 3+ products under different phases of clinical development like

• Late stage products (Phase III)
• Mid-stage products (Phase II)
• Early-stage product (Phase I) along with the details of
• Pre-clinical and Discovery stage candidates
• Discontinued & Inactive candidates
• Route of Administration

Hsv-1-Keratitis pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs such as

• Intra-articular
• Intraocular
• Intrathecal
• Intravenous
• Ophthalmic
• Oral
• Parenteral
• Subcutaneous
• Topical
• Transdermal
• Molecule Type

Products have been categorized under various Molecule types such as

• Oligonucleotide
• Peptide
• Small molecule
• Product Type

Drugs have been categorized under various product types like Mono, Combination and Mono/Combination.

Hsv-1-Keratitis: Pipeline Development Activities

The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in phase II, I, preclinical and discovery stage. It also analyses Hsv-1-Keratitistherapeutic drugs key players involved in developing key drugs.

Pipeline Development Activities

The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition and merger, licensing along with a thorough therapeutic assessment of emerging Hsv-1-Keratitis drugs.

Hsv-1-Keratitis Report Insights

• Hsv-1-Keratitis Pipeline Analysis
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Unmet Needs
• Impact of Drugs

Hsv-1-Keratitis Report Assessment

• Pipeline Product Profiles
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Pipeline Assessment
• Inactive drugs assessment
• Unmet Needs

Key Questions:

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:

• How many companies are developing Hsv-1-Keratitis drugs?
• How many Hsv-1-Keratitis drugs are developed by each company?
• How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Hsv-1-Keratitis?
• What are the key collaborations (Industry-Industry, Industry-Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Hsv-1-Keratitis therapeutics?
• What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
• What are the clinical studies going on for Hsv-1-Keratitis and their status?
• What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging drugs?

Key Players

• BDgene Therapeutics
• Excision BioTherapeutics

Key Products

• BD111
• EBT-104