Already working on a microbicide that could help prevent the spread of HIV and genital herpes, Starpharma recently announced that through its subsidiary, Dendritic Nanotechnologies Inc., it may also be able to help scientists uncover previously undetectable disease markers.
The U.S. – based subsidiary says its Priostar dendrimer technology can increase and enhance products already in use in the fluorescent reagents market. What’s a dendrimer? In its most simple explanation, dendrimers are repeatedly branched molecules. Using fluorescent reagents in various ways, laboratories study diseases at their most basic parts – the markers found genetically.
Many of these markers are undetectable with current technology, Starpharma says. But by using Priostar technology, those markers become visible. Dendritic has created dye-dendrimer complexes that enhance how much a sample fluoresces, as well as its photostability.
The enhancements offered by Priostar will make it marketable to several research industries, but the company plans to focus first on researching reagent and in vitro diagnostic markets.
“Market feedback indicates that the scientific community and industry users of these products will highly value the availability of reagents with increased sensitivity and photostability,” Dr. Lori Reyna, director of life sciences at DNT, said in a statement to the press. “Scientists are always keen to increase the sensitivity of detection and quantitation methods.”
Several investors will get to visit first hand with Starpharma management this month. Starpharma’s CEO, Jackie Fairley, is planning a visit to both the U.S. and Europe, where the company intends on making several presentations, including one at the Rodman and Renshaw 4th Annual Global Healthcare Conference May 14 and 15.
The company, which trades on the Pink Sheets’ OTCOX exchange as SPHRY, has a 52-week range of $3.40 – $3.70. Shares have remained at $3.40 for the past several days