Technically they are circular episomes — not integrated into chromosomal DNA like HIV.

And we do know that it’s possible to reduce the pool of reactivation-competent HSV genomes by the presence of IFNα during primary infection:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12764766/

This causes PML-NB formation → more viral genomes with H3K9me3 + ATRX → resists eviction by the H3K9me3S10ph “methyl/phospho switch” → stops Phase I HSV transcription (and VP16 expression).

Who’s to say an HPI like IM-250 isn’t altering epigenetic markers in viral episomes in this way? Innovative Molecules’ own press release states that some sort of permanent or semi-permanent modification may take place:

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/analyst-comment/es...

>Furthermore, testing in animal models showed that adibelivir affected the latent viral reservoir, suggesting that it has potential as a long-term curative therapy for HSV.