Starpharma's VivaGel condoms approved in Japan


By Dylan Bushell-Embling
Monday, 17 March, 2014

Starpharma’s (ASX:SPL) Japanese licensee Okamoto Industries has secured approval to market VivaGel-coated condoms in the nation.

Starpharma has granted Okamoto an exclusive commercial licence to market VivaGel-coated condoms in Japan.

Under the terms of the deal, Starpharma will receive royalties on sales of the condoms, which will carry the VivaGel brand.

VivaGel is an antiviral and antibacterial gel that has been shown in lab studies to kill 99.9% of HIV, HPV and HSV-2 germs.

Japan is the world’s second largest condom market and Okamoto is Japan’s top condom manufacturer.

“This receipt of the world’s first marketing approval for a VivaGel‐coated condom in Japan marks a major milestone for this product and for our strategically important partnership with Okamoto,” Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley commented.

Starpharma has a separate licensing deal with Ansell covering the sale of VivaGel-coated condoms outside of Japan.

The company is also developing an applicator-delivered product involving using VivaGel for the management of bacterial vaginosis (BV), and conducted phase III trials in 2012 as part of its regulatory applications in this indication. 

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) shares were trading 4.55% higher at $0.805 as of around 1 pm on Monday.

Related News

$780m Sydney Biomedical Accelerator gains its founding Executive Director

Professor Victoria Cogger has been appointed as founding Executive Director of the Sydney...

Portable point-of-care test detects four common STIs in under an hour

Australian researchers have developed a portable point-of-care test that detects four common...

AusBiotech and Proto Axiom partner on investor-focused life sciences programs

AusBiotech and Proto Axiom have announced a partnership to strengthen national coordination...


  • All content Copyright © 2026 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd