Breaking: The company Vical Inc (along with the University of Washington) has just received a US patent for a herpes vaccine targeting patients who already have HSV-2 (genital herpes).

Sounds strange right? But this could be a real game changer. While traditional vaccines aim to keep people from getting a virus, this one will help inhibit the virus once it's already in the body. It will reduce outbreaks (or get rid of them completely) as well as minimize viral shedding and the risk of transmission.

Because unlike most vaccines, this vaccine does not contain the virus itself (just DNA that affects the herpes virus proteins), people are able to get the vaccine repeatedly if necessary.

The potential benefits over standard antiviral meds include: lower cost, higher convenience (no more taking a pill every day!), and less chance of developing resistance to treatment.