• VivaGel^® BV has been launched in Asia by Mundipharma, under the brand name BETADINE^TM BV Gel
• BETADINE^TM BV Gel will be available Over-The-Counter
• Mundipharma is rolling out BETADINE^TM BV Gel across Asia, as regulatory approvals are granted
• Regulatory activities are underway for multiple countries across other Mundipharma regions

Melbourne, Australia; 13 February 2020: Starpharma (ASX: SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY) today announced that VivaGel^® BV has been launched in Asia under the brand name BETADINE^TM BV Gel. The product has initially been launched in South East Asia, with further roll-out in additional Asian countries, as regulatory approvals are granted.  

BETADINE^TM BV Gel will be available over-the-counter (OTC), without the need to see a doctor or obtain a prescription. Asia is the third region to launch VivaGel^® BV and represents a large commercial opportunity with access to more than 1.5 billion women.

VivaGel^® BV (BETADINE^TM BV) is a novel, non-antibiotic therapy for treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common vaginal condition worldwide and twice as common as thrush. VivaGel^® BV (BETADINE^TM BV) is an Australian innovation – invented, fully developed and taken through to commercialisation by Starpharma.

BV is a troublesome and often recurrent condition that causes unpleasant vaginal odour and discharge symptoms that have significant social impacts for women. BV has also been associated with a range of other serious reproductive health-related medical problems.

Dr Jackie Fairley, Starpharma CEO, commented: “We are delighted to achieve another territory launch of VivaGel^® BV with Mundipharma. Asia represents an important market for VivaGel^® BV and we’re delighted that our breakthrough product will be available to millions of Asian women who suffer from BV. Mundipharma have a leading position in feminine care in Asia with their successful international brand BETADINE. We look forward to working with Mundipharma on further registrations and launches across the globe.”

Raman Singh, Mundipharma CEO, said: “BETADINE^TM BV Gel is a significant addition to the BETADINE product portfolio which continues to evolve to meet women’s everyday health needs across Asia. It is already enabling women across Southeast Asia to access affordable and effective treatment for BV over-the-counter as part of our shared ambition with Starpharma to enhance women’s health’s across Asia.”

Starpharma’s and Mundipharma’s marketing and regulatory teams continue to work actively together on further launches of VivaGel^® BV in Mundipharma’s territories. Regulatory activities are underway for multiple countries across Mundipharma’s regions.

About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection worldwide, and twice as common as thrush. It is a highly recurrent condition with 50-60% of sufferers having it recurrently. 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. If left untreated, BV can cause a range of serious medical problems including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, premature delivery and miscarriage, low birth weights and uterine infection. BV also increases a woman’s chance of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and increases the likelihood that a woman will infect her partner with these conditions.

TM: BETADINE is a trademark of Mundipharma.

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