Sign in Subscribe
Health care industry

Starpharma Receives $US20.3m in Funding for VivaGel

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Starpharma's VivaGel, a vaginal microbicide designed to prevent the transmission of STIs, has received a significant boost with the award of $US20.3m development funding by the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This funding will accelerate the development of VivaGel, which has already shown promising results in clinical trials. The award is one of the largest ever made in Australia by the NIAID and will be led by Starpharma's Vice President of Drug Development, Tom McCarthy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NIAID has awarded $US20.3m in development funding to Starpharma to support the development of VivaGel, a vaginal microbicide against STIs.
  • This funding is significant as it accelerates the progress of VivaGel to market and means that VivaGel now has fully-external, non-shareholder funding through to the start of large-scale efficacy trials.
  • VivaGel has already been successfully tested in a number of studies, including a Phase I human safety trial.
  • The funding will be led by Starpharma's Vice President of Drug Development, Tom McCarthy, and will be conducted under a collaborative research agreement with internationally recognised leaders in the development of new HIV treatment and prevention measures.
  • The commercial opportunity for VivaGel is significant, with a great need for effective STI prevention in North American and European markets, as well as in the developing world.
  • VivaGel is designed to prevent the transmission of STIs, including HIV and genital herpes, and has shown promising results in clinical trials.

Statistics:

  • $US20.3m: The amount of funding awarded to Starpharma by the NIAID.
  • 45 million: Number of Americans infected with genital herpes, according to recent prevalence studies.
  • 26%: Percentage of women in the US infected with genital herpes.
  • 18%: Percentage of men in the US infected with genital herpes.
  • 25-34 years: Age range in which AIDS is the number one cause of death among African-American women in the US.
  • 26%: Percentage of women in the US infected with genital herpes, according to recent prevalence studies.

Sources:

  • "Starpharma" press release, October 3rd 2003.
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
  • Australian Federal Government Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane.

Read more