Starpharma announces positive trial results

Melbourne-based nanotechnology-based pharmaceutical company, Starpharma, has announced positive results from trials of its flagship product, VivaGel.

The antiviral gel demonstrated an ability to inhibit HIV and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in cervicovaginal fluid samples (CVS) taken from healthy women immediately, then at one, three, 12 and 24 hours after administration of the gel.

Total inhibition of the viruses was found after immediate application. High levels of inhibition were found at one and three hours after administration, and 90 per cent inhibition was still retained at 12 and 24 hours in more than half the women in the study.

This suggests VivaGel maintains its effectiveness even hours after application, opening the possibility of application other than immediately prior to sexual intercourse. According to Starpharma, further trials will be required to confirm this.

There were no serious adverse events during the study.

The study was conducted in Melbourne at the Centre for Clinical Studies and in collaboration with the Burnet Institute. The study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Division of AIDS (DAIDS).

Starpharma Holdings (ASX:SPL) closed up 32 per cent to $0.45 at the end of trading Monday.