Polydex Pharmaceuticals Limited
Research and Development / USHERCELL
(In Depth)

USHERCELL Worlds Ahead

Ushercell has been proven to be a potentially new revolutionary contraceptive, giving
women an alternative to condoms or consistent hormonal
oral prophylactic pills

Early preclinical trials revealed some of the great potential of
Ushercell as an effective guard against unwanted pregnancies
and a range of sexually transmitted infections, including
chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes 1 and 2.
Further human clinical trials determined that Ushercell could be 96% effective at pregnancy prevention when used as directed.

Ushercell has shown itself to be an exceptionally safe compound
in a variety of in vitro and animal studies as well as in twelve
Phase I and II human clinical trials. As these human trials
confirmed, Ushercell causes none of the inflammation associated
with either common vaginal lubricants or vaginal contraceptives
containing nonoxynol-9. Its only known side effect, reported in a
small minority of cases, is a temporary slight burning sensation,
but it was ultimately found to be highly acceptable among
participants in these trials, who largely indicated they would buy
such a product if it were available.

Two key properties explain Ushercell's safety in studies to date.
First, it is non-cytotoxic. It acts by inactivating cells or by creating
a barrier to their absorption, not by destroying them. Unlike
cytotoxins, it doesn't in the course of attacking harmful cells also
target healthy ones. As a result, Ushercell has shown no signs of
causing significant local side effects. Second, Ushercell is itself
non-absorptive. That is, it resists being absorbed into the body
through the vaginal walls. If it never enters the bloodstream, it
necessarily poses little risk of causing harm to the whole system.
In this way, Ushercell offers a healthy alternative to the use of
hormonal oral contraceptives. Only condoms offer a similar
combination of safety and contraceptive efficacy. Yet, as a
topically applied vaginal gel, Ushercell presents none of the
disincentives that everywhere continue to inhibit condom use.
Unlike condoms, Ushercell is discreet, easy to use and
controllable by women.

Polydex holds extensive U.S. and European patent protection
covering both Ushercell's synthesis and its contraceptive and
antimicrobial uses.