October 17, 2007

Microbicide-Coated Condoms Due

The developer of the VivaGel microbicide will join with the maker of Durex condoms to produce a gel-coated Durex line expected to hit stores next year (theage.com.au, 10/16).

VivaGel, currently under development, would act as a barrier to HIV and herpes transmission. Human trials are underway in San Francisco, Kenya and Australia.

Starpharma Holdings Ltd, which produces VivaGel, signed on with SSL International, which manufacturers Durex, yesterday (10/16). “We are delighted to be working with SSL, whom we believe will be an excellent codevelopment partner for VivaGel as a condom coating,” says Dr. Jackie Fairley, chief executive officer of Starpharma. This is the second Vivagel coating agreement Starpharma has made with a condom manufacturer in the past three months.

SSL accounts for 30 percent of the global condom market.