That’s a fact. A new condom capable of "killing" sexually transmitted diseases like HIV has been approved by Australian regulators and could be available within months. Australian biotech firm Starpharma has developed an antiviral compound called VivaGel, according to Australia’s ABC News.
VivaGel’s antiviral compound, when used as a condom lubricant, can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses that cause sexually transmitted diseases. In the lab, the lubricant’s antimicrobial agent astodrimer sodium inactivated up to 99.9 percent of HIV human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and human papillomavirus (HPV ).
In July, Starpharma received regulatory approval from Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which performs in a similar way to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The conformity assessment certification means the product will soon be available to consumers.
While condoms are considered the best protection against sexually transmitted diseases, Dr. Jackie Fairley, Starpharma’s chief executive officer said that they are not foolproof.
“Condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing either pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections and so anything that you can do to reduce the number of virus particles by inactivating them with a substance like VivaGel would reduce overall viral load."
Dr. Fairley told ABC News that VivaGel has both antiviral and antibacterial properties, but the claims tested by the TGA are solely related to the viruses it was tested against in laboratory studies. That means the new condom cannot guarantee full protection from sexually transmitted diseases, but that the new condom is intended to help further reduce the chance of infection.
Starpharma has partnered with Ansell, the world's second biggest condom maker, which is based in Australia, to incorporate this antiviral coating in the condom lubricant.
Starpharma and Ansell plan to launch the VivaGel-coated condom under the brand LifeStyles Dual Protect in the coming months, IFLScience.com reported. The condom will also be marketed in Japan, where VivaGel has been approved since March.
Ansell also has global production and distribution rights outside of Japan, so if other countries approve the product, a worldwide release of the Australian condom line could follow.
VivaGel is undergoing trials in the United States for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, an imbalance in the normal vaginal microflora. ABC News said that it was intended as an alternative to antibiotic treatment of bacterial vaginosis, but a setback in some clinical trials caused FDA rejection for this purpose.
Fairly said to ABC News that the FDA has agreed to a trial of VivaGel to see if it will prevent the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. A recurrence usually happens within 12 months for about half the women who have this condition.
Sources:
Fang, Janet. "HIV-Killing Condom Approved in Australia." IFLScience. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014.
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/hiv-killing-condom-approved-australia
Frantzis, Dominic. "'Virus-killing condoms' to be sold by Australian firm." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 22 July 2014. Web. 27 July 2014.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10981886/Virus-killing-condoms-to-be-sold-by-Australian-firm.html
Janda, Michael. "Companies get approval for HIV-killing condom." ABC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-21/starpharma-ansell-get-approval-for-hiv-fighting-condom/5612430
Parry, Lizzie. "First condom designed to kill HIV 'could be available to buy within months'." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 22 July 2014. Web. 27 July 2014.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2699944/World-HIV-killing-condom-available-buy-months.html
Reviewed August 1, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith