Starpharma adds to STI inhibition

The main ingredient in Melbourne biotech Starpharma’s developmental microbicide has shown activity in vivo against human papillomavirus 16 and 18, the company said.

These two strains of HPV are responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancers. Starpharma is developing a topically applied microbicide called VivaGel to reduce the risk of infection by several sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV, genital herpes and HIV.

The company said pre-clinical trials had shown the active ingredient, SPL7013, showed activity against HPV 16 and 18, in addition to previously shown activity against HPV 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.

The compound also demonstrated activity against two other minor strains of HPV that are thought to cause a low rate of cervical cancer but are not covered by the available cervical cancer vaccines.