MORE FUNDING FOR STARPHARMA TRIAL TO TEST HIV, HERPES PREVENTION DRUG

Starpharma signed a funding agreement this week with several federal agencies for further study of VivaGel, an HIV and genital herpes prevention drug, in sexually active women.

Starpharma is partnering with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to fund the study, expected to commence in the second quarter of this year.

This further support from the NIH is non-dilutive for shareholders and has no negative impact on the commercial returns Starpharma will receive from VivaGel, the company said.

This support adds to the previously announced $20.3 million provided by the NIH to support the development of VivaGel for the prevention of HIV, and the funding of the clinical study of VivaGel for the prevention of genital herpes, Starpharma said.

The Microbicide Trials Network will conduct the trial. It will be sponsored by NIAID and NICHD and co-sponsored by Starpharma.