The Australia-based Starpharma on Tuesday announced that its VivaGel-coated condom will be sold by SSL International, the owner of the Durex condom brand, Bloomberg reports. Starpharma expects to earn more than $81 million in royalties and other payments through the deal with SSL. VivaGel is a microbicide designed to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and genital herpes, according to Bloomberg. Starpharma also aims to develop the gel for use on its own as a vaginal microbicide. The agreement provides the rights to sell the VivaGel condom in "most of the world," including Europe and the U.S., Starpharma said in a release (Bennett, Bloomberg, 9/9).

"We are particularly pleased to be working with a company such as SSL, which has the capabilities and marketing strength to rapidly move the product through registration and into the market," Starpharma CEO Jackie Fairley said. SSL has an approximate 30% share of the branded condom market worldwide and sells in more than 100 countries. Global condom retail sales have been estimated at approximately $3.2 billion (Starpharma release, 9/9).