Members of the Forum for Collaborative Research’s TAVI (Transplantation Associated Viral Infections) Forum published “Refractory mucocutaneous infections by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients: A real-world, multicenter study,” in Open Forum Infectious Diseases (OFID). (June 19, 2026).

Based on a collaboration among investigators across seven U.S. transplant centers, this study draws on real-world clinical data from 125 patients to analyze treatment approaches and outcomes in a population that continues to face significant therapeutic challenges.

Reflecting on the importance of this work, Dr. Camille Kotton, the US Academic TAVI Forum co-chair, said:

“This multicenter study is the largest and most comprehensive investigation to date of refractory mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. The findings of the analysis of 125 patients highlight the significant challenges of managing refractory HSV with currently available therapies and emphasize the ongoing need for safer and more effective treatment options. Together with recently reported phase 3 data for pritelivir, these results suggest that improved therapeutic options for refractory HSV may soon become available”.

Dr. Per Ljungman, the EU Academic TAVI Forum co-chair, added:

“This work also highlights the value of the TAVI Forum’s collaborative model and the contributions of the HSV Resistance Working Group in bringing together experts across academia, clinical practice, industry, and regulatory perspectives to iteratively identify evidence gaps and advance meaningful work to improve outcomes for transplant recipients.”

Dr. Genovefa (Zenia) Papanicolaou, first author and member of the TAVI Forum Steering Committee, shared an additional perspective on the clinical implications of the findings:

“This multicenter study across seven major transplant centers highlights the real-world challenges of treating refractory HSV in transplant recipients. Current therapies often require prolonged intravenous treatment, are limited by toxicity and poor efficacy, and many patients experience delayed healing or die before infection resolves. These findings underscore the urgent need for safer, effective, well-tolerated oral therapies such as pritelivir.”

Refractory HSV remains an important unmet need in transplant medicine. Existing treatment approaches may require prolonged therapy and can be limited by toxicity and variable effectiveness, underscoring the need for improved management strategies and additional therapeutic options for immunocompromised patients.

The Forum congratulates all authors, collaborators, and members of the TAVI HSV Resistance Working Group whose contributions helped advance this important work.

“This publication reflects the value of sustained cross-stakeholder collaboration to address unmet needs in transplant infectious diseases and to generate evidence to inform future research and clinical care,” added Dr. Veronica Miller, Director of the Forum for Collaborative Research.

Read the publication in Open Forum Infectious Diseases here: Refractory mucocutaneous infections by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients: A real-world, multicenter study | Open Forum Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic