Melbourne, May 12, 2008 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) today announced positive results of a clinical trial that achieved all its objectives demonstrating that 3% SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel(R)) was safe and well-tolerated in sexually abstinent women when administered vaginally, twice daily for 14 days.
Based on these results and existing supporting data, the product is deemed suitable for continued development as a topical microbicide for the prevention of HIV and genital herpes (HSV) and the exploration of other potential indications. These findings support current and future clinical studies to assess the safety and efficacy of VivaGel(R) for genital herpes and HIV in sexually active women.
The study enrolled 54 women in the U.S. and Kenya and was double blinded so that the participants, the investigators and study staff did not know who was receiving VivaGel(R) or placebo gel.
Blood tests (systemic laboratory parameters) showed no evidence of any treatment-related effects in study participants. This finding was not surprising, given that consistent with previous clinical and non-clinical studies, there was no evidence of absorption of the active ingredient of VivaGel(R), SPL7013, into the blood after vaginal application in this study. Study participants also showed no evidence of any treatment-related effects on vaginal microflora.
No participant discontinued or was required to discontinue product use due to any adverse events during the trial.
An additional positive outcome was there was no statistical difference between the VivaGel(R) and placebo arms in the number of participants who experienced any sign or symptom including genitourinary (genital and urinary) signs or symptoms deemed to be associated with product use. During the study, there were no serious adverse events reported, nor grade 3 or 4 adverse events.
Moderate (grade 2) genitourinary findings occurred in only three women receiving VivaGel(R) at the U.S. site. All other genitourinary findings were reported as being mild (grade 1).
The incidence of genital signs and symptoms reported with VivaGel(R) in this study is in line with that reported for other topical vaginal products and markedly lower than that reported with nonoxynol-9 in similar studies.
Starpharma's CEO, Dr Jackie Fairley said, "We are pleased to report that VivaGel(R) has met its safety and tolerability endpoints in this expanded safety study. We look forward to moving ahead with further trials of the product - both in the HIV and HSV-2 programs and also potentially in additional applications of VivaGel(R) including other STIs and contraception."
The clinical study was funded by the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducted by DMID in collaboration with the Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group (STI-CTG). This was the first study to be conducted under the U.S. Investigational New Drug application (IND) for VivaGel(R) for prevention of genital herpes.
A summary of the results of the study is included in the Appendix to this announcement. VivaGel(R) is being developed as a topical vaginal microbicide for the prevention of HIV and genital herpes, and also shows promise as a contraceptive agent. In addition, the company recently reported VivaGel(R) has activity against clinically relevant human papillomavirus (HPV). Starpharma is also co-developing a VivaGel(R) coated condom with SSL International plc and one other unnamed market leading condom company.
Forward Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements, relating to Starpharma's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "promising", "plans", "anticipated", "will", "project", "believe", "forecast", "expected", "estimated", "targeting", "aiming", "set to", "potential", "seeking to", "goal", "could provide", "intends", "is being developed", "could be", "on track", or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential filings or marketing approvals, or potential future sales of product candidates. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no assurance that any existing or future regulatory filings will satisfy the FDA's and other health authorities' requirements regarding any one or more product candidates nor can there be ny assurance that such product candidates will be approved by any health authorities for sale in any market or that they will reach any particular level of sales. In particular, management's expectations regarding the approval and commercialization of the product candidates could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including additional analysis of existing clinical data, and new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays, or government regulation generally; our ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry, and general public pricing pressures; and additional factors that involve significant risks and uncertainties about our products, product candidates, financial results and business prospects. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as nticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Starpharma is providing this information as of the date of this document and does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise.
Contact
Dr Jackie Fairley
Chief Executive Officer
+61 3 8532 2704
Ben Rogers
Company Secretary
+61 3 8532 2702
ben.rogers@starpharma.com
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