D2D001

D2D001 is a topical antiviral candidate developed by D2 Derma Europe Ltd, specifically designed to treat herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections of the mouth and nasal openings (cold sores). The formulation contains acyclovir, a well-established nucleoside analogue, delivered via a proprietary technology intended to optimize skin penetration and local bioavailability. Acyclovir functions as a competitive inhibitor of viral DNA polymerase; upon selective phosphorylation by viral thymidine kinase, it incorporates into the viral DNA strand, leading to premature chain termination and inhibition of viral replication. D2D001 has undergone Phase II clinical evaluation (NCT04843319) to compare its efficacy and safety against both a placebo and an active comparator, docosanol 10% cream.