Starpharma condom gel to fight STIs

A revolutionary condom featuring a gel that attacks sexually transmitted viruses has been given the go ahead for sale in Australia.

Australian biotech Starpharma developed the unique gel with the hope of reducing the growing prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The VivaGel lubricant attacks viruses that cause STIs such as HIV, genital herpes and human papillomavirus.

Laboratory tests have shown the gel can inactivate up to 99.9 per cent of those three STIs.

Starpharma on Monday said that Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration had approved the use of VivaGel on condoms, paving the way for them to go on sale within months.

The gel will be used on a new line of Ansell condoms sold in Australia.

It is the second regulatory approval Starpharma has received for VivaGel condoms.

The company earlier in 2014 received approval from Japanese authorities to license the gel to Okamoto Industries, Japan's leading marketer of condoms.

Starpharma said the approval by Australian authorities should support its applications to other regulators overseas regarding the use of VivaGel on condoms.

Last week, the powerful Food and Drug Administration in the United States has paved the way for Starpharma to carry two key phase 3 clinical trial of VivaGel as a treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

Shares in Starpharma were 4.5 cents, or 7.7 per cent, higher at 63 cents by 1232 AEST.

Ansell shares were down eight cents to $18.99.