Starpharma's VivaGel condoms approved in Japan

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.