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VCL-HB01

phase 2 Vical

Last updated:

DeveloperVical
PlatformDNA
HSV targetHSV-2
Approachtherapeutic
Phasephase 2
StatusA Phase 2 trial in adults with symptomatic genital HSV-2 was completed in 2018 with no results posted on the registry; as of the 2026-09-27 registry search, no record naming VCL-HB01 has an ongoing status.
Trials NCT02030301 , NCT02837575

VCL-HB01 is a therapeutic HSV-2 DNA vaccine sponsored by Vical, tested in adults who already have symptomatic HSV-2 infection. It was studied in a phase 1/2 dose-escalation trial with 165 actual enrolments, completed in 2016, and a phase 2 trial with 261 actual enrolments, completed in 2018. Neither trial has results posted on the registry, and as of the 2026-09-27 registry search no record naming VCL-HB01 has an ongoing status.

What it is

VCL-HB01 is a DNA vaccine that its registry records describe as a therapeutic vaccine for HSV-2, sponsored by Vical. Both of its registered trials enrolled adults who already had symptomatic HSV-2 infection.

Where it stands

NCT02030301 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase 1/2 trial in symptomatic HSV-2-seropositive adults. It listed VCL-HB01, VCL-HM01 and PBS as interventions. It enrolled 165 participants (actual count), was completed in 2016, and has no results posted on the registry. NCT02837575 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of VCL-HB01 against phosphate-buffered saline in adults with symptomatic genital HSV-2 infection. It enrolled 261 participants (actual count), was completed in 2018, and has no results posted on the registry. A ClinicalTrials.gov search on 2026-09-27 for records naming VCL-HB01 returned these 2 records, and none had an ongoing status.

What this does and doesn’t mean

Completing a phase 2 trial shows the vaccine was tested, not that it worked; neither registry record has results posted. The sources here contain no published safety or efficacy results for VCL-HB01.

Registry snapshot

Verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov as of Sep 28, 2026. These are the registry's administrative facts; the editorial status above is our reading of the evidence and may differ.

Safety and Efficacy Trial of DNA Vaccines to Treat Genital Herpes in Adults

Registry status
Completed
Phase
phase 1/2
Enrollment
165 (actual)
Lead sponsor
Vical
Started
Dec 2013
Primary completion
Jun 2015

Registry record last updated Feb 27, 2019.

Safety and Efficacy Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Therapeutic DNA Vaccine

Registry status
Completed
Phase
phase 2
Enrollment
261 (actual)
Lead sponsor
Vical
Started
Sep 2016
Primary completion
Apr 2018

Registry record last updated Feb 27, 2019.

Sources

  1. ClinicalTrials.gov registry search for VCL-HB01 (searched 2026-09-27) — ClinicalTrials.gov , searched 2026-09-27
  2. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Escalation, Phase 1/2 Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 2 Therapeutic DNA Vaccines in Symptomatic HSV-2-Seropositive Adults (NCT02030301) — ClinicalTrials.gov , record updated 2019-02-27
  3. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 2 (HSV-2) Therapeutic DNA Vaccine in Adults With Symptomatic Genital HSV-2 Infection (NCT02837575) — ClinicalTrials.gov , record updated 2019-02-27