From the ShareScene message board (Australia)

Extract of article in Bioshares ed322 31-July. Believes the $100M deal with SSL could grow even bigger with prod rel in H2 2010.

"Starpharma (SPL: $0.37) is one company which seems to getting it right, with the main focus on the microbicide application for condom coating. It's partner SSL International, which continues to build its dominance in the global condom market, is expected to start selling microbicide coated condoms using a microbicide developed by Starpharma.

This will be the only microbicide on the market when the product is released in the second half of 2010. Product uptake should be rapid after the initial introduction, with SSL now commanding a 40% share of the global condom market. (SSL recently purchased a major share in two market leading condom makers in Eastern Europe and Russia.) Starpharma initially expected that its deal with SSL will bring in over $100 million in revenue over the life of the deal. However, it looks likely that the product application of the microbicides for the condom market may be broader than earlier anticipated, and by our estimates significantly larger.

Regulatory Approval
It is not expected that efficacy trials will be required by regulators to have the microbicide condom product approved for sale, although there is continuing dialogue with regulators, and small safety studies will be a requirement, along with stability testing and durability testing. The raw material manufacture is contracted out to third parties. Commercialisation of the standalone Vivagel microbicide product is continuing, however the focus has been on lead product and revenue generating aspects of the business. full article in Star web site.