The study was led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, and Brady Urological Institute. Findings from the study were published June 1 in The Lancet Oncology.

The study evaluated 745 men with localized prostate cancer treated at 51 medical centers across the United States and Puerto Rico. The men had prostate cancer confined to the prostate region but with features that increase the likelihood of recurrence or spread. Patients received either aglatimagene injected into the prostate in combination with the generic oral prodrug valacyclovir, which only becomes activated in the prostate, and radiation therapy, or a placebo plus valacyclovir and radiation therapy.