USE OF VALACICLOVIR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A MEDICAMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF GENITAL HERPES BY A SINGLE DAILY APPLICATION

The invention relates to the antiviral drug valaciclovir, the valine ester of 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine (aciclovir), which is known as an effective treatment for genital herpes in a dosage regime of 40 mg, twice to 5 times daily. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes in a human host comprising administering to the host from about 200 mg to about 1000 mg valaciclovir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof once daily for an effective treatment period, as well as to the use of valaciclovir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the preparation of a unit dosage medicament for once daily administration in the suppression of recurrent genital herpes, and to a pharmaceutical composition for administration once daily in the suppression of genital herpes, comprising from 200 mg to 1000 mg valaciclovir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in unit dosage form. Particularly preferred unit dosage forms include tablets and capsules for oral administration. The preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salt of valaciclovir is the hydrochloride salt.