Summary
Starpharma's lead product, is a vaginal microbicide gel under development for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including genital herpes and HIV infection. The VivaGel® product concept is designed to offer a safe, convenient and affordable means for women to protect themselves from infection with genital herpes and HIV during sex. Surveys show that there is substantial demand in North America and Europe for such a product with an estimated billion dollar market for STI prevention products in the developed world.
Analysis
Given the prevalence of STD's, this product is certainly an option, especially for those who do not wish to use condoms. This product has a lot of promise.
A two-site expanded safety trial of VivaGel® for prevention of genital herpes has been conducted in San Francisco, US and Kisumu, Kenya. This trial of 54 sexually abstinent women found that VivaGel® was safe and well tolerated when administered vaginally, twice daily for 14 days. This National Institutes of Health (NIH) supported trial extends the duration of use for VivaGel® and is the first international trial of this product.
A further trial of the safety and acceptability of VivaGel® in sexually active young women is being conducted in Florida and Puerto Rico by the Microbicide Trials Network.
VivaGel® has been awarded US$20.3 million from the US-based National Institutes of Health to develop its HIV indication.
A further trial of the safety and acceptability of VivaGel® in sexually active young women is being conducted in Florida and Puerto Rico by the Microbicide Trials Network.
VivaGel® has been awarded US$20.3 million from the US-based National Institutes of Health to develop its HIV indication.
Jeffrey Weinberg consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
