What is Going on with Starpharma?
Starpharma (SPHRY) has reported data that confirms that its SPL7013 (VIRELEZE active) is effective and provides a potent antiviral activity against the UK (B.1.1.7.) SARSCoV-2 coronavirus strain. In clinical concentrations of the UK variant, SPL7013 was able to achieve about a 98% reduction of the infectious virus. This is especially important as the UK variant of the coronavirus has reached the classification “variant of concern” by UK public health authorities, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). This is because the UK variant is about 90% more transmissible than the other variants, leading to a large surge of cases and deaths in the UK. The VIRELEZE antiviral nasal spray is already available in the UK at LloydsPharmacy.
SPHRY shares are down 3.88% to $12.76 a share following the news.
What This Means for Starpharma?
Starpharma’s confirmation of VIRELEZE’s effectiveness is beneficial for the company and for going forward in fighting the pandemic. The company has already begun pursuing ways in which to make VIRELEZE more accessible to the public and in other countries, especially where other variants of the coronavirus have been identified. Testing of SPL7013 has already begun for the Japan/Brazil and South Africa variants, and testing for the India variant is planned. Dr Jackie Fairley, CEO of Starpharma, states that, “given the constantly evolving public health challenges presented by SARS-CoV-2 variants, we are delighted to see that VIRELEZE™ retains potent activity against the important UK variant. SPL7013 has consistently shown high levels of antiviral activity, not only against multiple COVID-19 variants, but also against a broad spectrum of other respiratory viruses, including influenza, making VIRELEZE™ an ideal product to use alongside vaccines and other measures.”
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Starpharma Holdings Ltd is an Australia-based company engaged in the research, development, and commercialisation of dendrimer products for pharmaceutical, life-science, and other applications. It focuses on the development of VivaGel for the management and prevention of bacterial vaginosis, and as a condom coating.
