• NDA rolling submission for VivaGel^® BV now complete
• US FDA review under QIDP/Fast Track priority review
• VivaGel^® NDA covers two indications for BV – treatment and prevention
• Late-stage global licensing negotiations for VivaGel^® BV  

Melbourne, Australia: Starpharma (ASX: SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY) today announced that its rolling new drug application (NDA)[1] for VivaGel^® BV including two indications, for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and prevention of BV, has been completed, and the final module of the NDA will be submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday 30 April 2018 (US time).

The review of the VivaGel^® BV NDA by the FDA has already commenced and will be conducted as a priority review based on the Fast Track status of the product. The NDA review is expected to take approximately 6-8 months from the completed submission.

Fast Track status is intended to accelerate the regulatory process and secure rapid approval and early market access for products that address unmet medical needs. VivaGel^® BV was also granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation, which applies to certain important new antibacterial products. As well as making the product eligible for Fast Track status, QIDP designation provides other significant commercial advantages such as an additional 5 years’ market exclusivity. Starpharma also has a Special Protocol Agreement in place from the FDA for VivaGel^® BV which provides binding FDA agreement on the phase 3 trial design.

VivaGel^® BV offers the potential to fill a currently unmet medical need with respect to both the treatment and prevention of BV. Compared with existing therapies, none of which are approved for prevention of BV, VivaGel^® BV is characterised by an absence of problematic drug interactions, an absence of need for food or alcohol restrictions, reduced risk of side effects, and a lack of effect in promoting harmful antibiotic resistance. VivaGel^® BV acts via a novel mechanism of action, whereby it affects BV-related biofilms, which have been linked to persistence and recurrence of the condition. The product is well suited to longer-term use, given the lack of absorption of the product into the bloodstream and resulting lack of systemic side effects attributable to the product.

Independent market research in the US has highlighted that the VivaGel^® BV product profile is very appealing to BV patients, payers and clinicians alike, and in particular, its rapid action and novel (non-antibiotic) mechanism were highly valued. Clinical investigators involved in the conduct of the VivaGel^® BV trials have often commented on the desirability and benefits of VivaGel^® BV for their patients. Dr Belvia Carter, from Tennessee, USA, commented that her patients described the effects of VivaGel^® BV as “miraculous”. An extract of the market research is available via http://www.starpharma.com/news/365.

Dr Jackie Fairley, Starpharma CEO, commented: “Completion of our NDA filing is an exciting milestone for Starpharma, and a great story for Australian innovation. We look forward to VivaGel^® BV being available for patients in the US, where the rate of BV is particularly high, with one in three women suffering from this troubling and recurring condition. In parallel with these regulatory activities, Starpharma’s licensing negotiations for commercial rights to VivaGel^® BV are now well-advanced across multiple regions, including the US. Draft contracts are currently under advanced negotiation with parties, including major global and regional companies as well as companies specialising in women's health.

“The combined value of the BV treatment and prevention markets globally is estimated to be more than US$1.75 billion annually and VivaGel^® BV stands to be the first and only product approved for the prevention of recurrent BV. As a treatment, VivaGel^® BV also offers patients and clinicians important advantages over existing therapies, which have troublesome side effects.”

VivaGel^® BV is already approved for sale in Europe and Australia. In Australia, VivaGel^® BV is licensed to Aspen Pharmacare, who will launch the product under the Fleurstat brand in the near future.

Download ASX Announcement:  Starpharma completes US New Drug Application for VivaGel® BV (pdf file, 148kb)

Download presentation: VivaGel® BV product information and extract of independent market research (pdf, 550kb)

About VivaGel^® BV 

VivaGel^® BV is a patented, water-based vaginal gel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and prevention of recurrent BV. VivaGel^® BV is a breakthrough product which specifically targets the organisms that cause BV, rapidly relieves symptoms and has a novel mechanism of action affecting biofilm. VivaGel^® BV is a non-antibiotic therapy and is not absorbed into the bloodstream.

VivaGel^® BV is protected by patents in the US and elsewhere with coverage out to 2032. VivaGel^® BV demonstrated compelling efficacy in phase 3 trials without the unpleasant side effects of current BV therapies and has been endorsed by clinicians and patients alike. VivaGel^® BV is already approved in Europe and Australia and is expected to be first available in Australian pharmacies, under the brand name Fleurstat in 2018.  

About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal infection for women of childbearing age, and affects around 30% of women in the US. It is a highly recurrent condition with 50-60% of sufferers experiencing repeated episodes. BV is caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring bacterial flora (the usual bacteria found in a woman's vagina). Smoking, the use of some hygiene products and several other risk factors are linked to a higher risk of developing BV. Current therapies for BV are inadequate and have many unpleasant side-effects, there are also no approved products in the US for preventing recurrent BV, making VivaGel^® BV a first-in-class therapy for this condition.