Melbourne, Australia; 24 August 2010: A report released today by the Burnet Institute, supports the advancement of a microbicide under development in Australia called SPL7013 to protect people against sexually transmitted infections including HIV and HSV (genital herpes).
Microbicides are substances that kill or inactivate infectious agents including viruses. Topical microbicides are being developed for use by women to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). SPL7013 is formulated as VivaGel® by Australian biotechnology company Starpharma and is currently in clinical development to prevent the transmission of STIs including HIV and genital herpes (HSV), and as a treatment for bacterial vaginosis.
The report was published in the international peer-reviewed science publication, PLoS One, and supports the belief that topical microbicides are urgently required. It carefully details the results of dendrimers as potential microbicides for the prevention of sexually transmitted viruses.
Microbicides have long been lauded by many high-profile spokespeople including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Bill and Melinda Gates as a potential approach to HIV prevention. In studies conducted by the Burnet Institute, in collaboration with Starpharma and other partners under Starpharma’s US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, SPL7013 was found to be more active against HSV and HIV than other alternate dendrimer molecules tested. These results confirmed SPL7013 as the optimal dendrimer microbicide and also clearly demonstrate the fact that dendrimers can be tailored to achieve optimum biological effects.
The report made several important observations in the fight against HIV and genital herpes. In addition to confirming SPL7013 to have the best antiviral activity against HIV and HSV of the group of dendrimers tested, it was also shown to inhibit different strains and clinical isolates of HIV, which can infect cells via varying mechanisms. This broad activity has not been seen with some other candidate microbicide products in the past and the antiviral activity of SPL7013 was not affected by biological fluids.
Unlike other candidate microbicides no longer in development, SPL7013 (VivaGel®) did not enhance HSV-2 infection in vivo, which is a key safety hurdle for new products.
The Burnet Institute is one the world’s leading groups focused on research and public health programs in infectious diseases of global significance such as HIV, hepatitis, measles, malaria, tuberculosis and influenza.
Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute Professor Brendan Crabb said “For many reasons millions of women have little power to control whether or not they are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases. This study is an encouraging development for these women.”
Dr Jeremy Paull from Starpharma added: “The findings of this report by the Burnet Institute support the development of VivaGel® and it is very pleasing to see how well VivaGel® performs compared to other agents. Microbicides represent a breakthrough in women’s health and VivaGel® has the potential to offer a safe, affordable and discreet means for women to protect themselves against diseases such as HIV and genital herpes with application in both developed and developing countries.”
About Starpharma
Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) is a world leader in the development of dendrimer technology for pharmaceutical, life-science and other applications. SPL has two operating companies, Starpharma Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Australia and DNT, Inc in the USA. Products based on SPL’s dendrimer technology are already on the market in the form of diagnostic elements and laboratory reagents through licence arrangements with partners including Siemens and Merck KgA.
The Company’s lead pharmaceutical development product is VivaGel® (SPL7013 Gel), a vaginal microbicide designed to prevent the transmission of STIs, including HIV and genital herpes. In September 2008 Starpharma signed a full licence agreement with SSL International plc (LSE:SSL) to develop a VivaGel® coated condom. SSL manufactures and sells Durex® condoms, the market-leading condom brand worldwide.
Starpharma also has agreements in place with Lilly, Elanco,Stiefel Laboratories (a GSK Company), and Unilever as well as many research collaborations with some of the world’s leading organisations.
About Burnet Institute
Burnet Institute is Australia’s leading medical research and public health institute focused on infectious diseases of global significance such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. The Institute is based in Melbourne and aims to achieve better health for poor and vulnerable communities in Australia and internationally through research, education and public health.
Jessica Sealby Buchan Pty Ltd Business Strategy | Communication | Public Policy T: 03 9866 4722 | F: 03 9867 1716 E: jsealby@bcg.com.au | W: bcg.com.au
