Starpharma today announced the inclusion of the VivaGel® condom in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), the final step ahead of market launch in Australia.

Starpharma’s partner in innovating and bringing this product to market, Ansell (ASX:ANN), has made the necessary preparations, including manufacture of launch supplies, and will launch the VivaGel® condom under the LifeStyles® Dual Protect™ name in Australian retail outlets, including Woolworths stores around the country, during October.

Starpharma is pleased to announce it has raised A$18 million via a placement to international and domestic institutional, sophisticated and professional investors (“Placement”). Eligible shareholders will have the opportunity to also participate at the same price, through a Share Purchase Plan (SPP), which will raise up to a further A$5 million.

Starpharma today released its annual report and financial results for the year ended 30 June 2014.

Starpharma CEO Jackie Fairley joins The Business’ Presenter Ticky Fullerton to discuss TGA approval of a VivaGel coated condom in depth, revisiting the shorting issue covered prior on the show, the benefits of the announcement to broader Australian innovation, and a business update on Starpharma’s DEP docetaxel drug development. 

Glamour UK, a magazine for women with a UK online readership of 3.38 million, covered the announcement that Starpharma had received TGA approval for VivaGel coated condoms. 

The Washington Times’ picked up the announcement that Starpharma and Ansell have received TGA approval of the VivaGel coated condom from The Daily Mail UK.  

In an article that goes into a significant amount of scientific detail for a mainstream news publication, the Daily Mail covered the TGA of VivaGel coated condoms announcement. 

Elite Daily, a widely read US based publication targeted at generation Y, reported that VivaGel kills up to 99% of HIV and Herpes following the announce TGA approval of VivaGel coated condoms in Australia. 

The ABC reported that while condoms are the best method of sexual protection available, they are currently not 100% effective in preventing either pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections and so anything you can do to reduce the number of virus particles by inactivating them with a substance like VivaGel would reduce that overall viral load.

Following the announcement that Starpharma received TGA approval for VivaGel coated condoms in Australia, the AFR reported on the significance of the deal for Australian innovation.