Starpharma is a world leader in the development of nanotechnology-based pharmaceuticals and through its US-based subsidiary Dendritic Nanotechnologies, a range of life science and industrial uses.

Starpharma is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: SPL) and its securities also trade in the US under the American Depositary Receipts program (OTCQX: SPHRY).

Starpharma's lead development candidates are based on dendrimer nanotechnology. Dendrimers are man-made, nano-sized compounds with unique properties that make them useful to the health and pharmaceutical industry as both enhancements to existing products and as products that are entirely new. Dendrimers are constructed by the successive addition of layers to the branching groups. Each new layer is called a generation. The final generation incorporates the surface molecules that give the dendrimer the desired function for medical, electronic, chemical and materials applications. The innate adaptability of dendrimers is one of their most valuable advantages when applied to the field of medicine.

Starpharma aims to create value through the commercialisation of its proprietary products based on dendrimer nanotechnology both directly and through its wholly owned subsidiary, the US-based Dendritic Nanotechnologies Inc (DNT). Much of Starpharma's value comes from its opportunities for substantial revenues from three key areas:

VivaGel™ (SPL7013 Gel):
The most advanced product in Starpharma's pipeline. It is being developed as a vaginal microbicide intended to prevent the transmission of the sexually transmitted infections genital herpes and HIV. This is a mass-market application in both developed and developing countries.

Other Medical and Life Science Applications:
Within its own discovery pipeline, Starpharma is pursuing promising leads in fields such as cancer, ophthalmology and targeted diagnostics. DNT provide additional avenues of commercialisation, for example, in drug delivery, transfection reagents and contrast agents. Contrast agents improve the ability of diagnostic imaging tools to discern features in the body, improving diagnoses and patient outcomes. It is expected that returns will be made in these areas primarily by licensing rights to successful innovations to third parties.

Industrial Applications of Dendrimers:
This an opportunity being exploited through DNT. The market for these kinds of specialty chemicals tends to be larger volume, and hence also represents a very substantial commercial opportunity. Dendrimers may have applications in areas such as electronics, oil and plastic industries, just to name a few. Together Starpharma and DNT hold a strong Intellectual Property (IP) position with regard to dendrimers and their applications.