You need IV antibiotics for STIs now, and they could be incurable and deadly by 2040 due to antibiotic resistance.
Tell us about your company, PHLYXR
PHLYXR, in a nutshell, is a sexual lubricant that prevents the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, HPV, and HIV. Gonorrhoea rates have increased over 500% since 2010 in Europe, in England it’s not much better.
With over 400,000 STI cases diagnosed a year, and rising, we’re reaching a crisis point. There hasn’t been any innovation in STI spread prevention since rubber condoms were invented in 1855. We’re very early stage at present, but James and I are very keen to see this project take off and disrupt the outdated condom industry.
Why is your product important?
Did you know you have to now have IV antibiotics for a gonorrhoea infection? Gonorrhoea is becoming so resistant that it, and other bacterial STI infections could be deadly by 2040. With condom usage falling, yet lubricant use actually increasing, we’re hoping PHLYXR can prevention these infections and reduce the need for antibiotics. All without the need for major behavioural changes. Just use it as you would any other lubricant for added peace of mind.
James, as an expert in biomaterials and hydrogel-based technologies who’s now a lecturer at the University of Manchester, and myself, as a final year PhD student studying the vaginal microbiome at Imperial College London, combined our expertise in our relevant fields to create PHLYXR. Even now we’re brainstorming additional uses and future evolutions of the gel. Along with our advisors (Dr Charlotte-Eve Short, STI microbiota group lead at Imperial and Rebekah Lloyd from Rela) we’re definitely the right team to take PHLYXR forward and help it reach those who need it most: those who want protection so they can live in the moment.
Tell us about your core product or service: PHLYXR
Our product is our company at present! We really want to make sure we get it right. PHLYXR, beyond what I’ve already mentioned, also acts as non-hormonal contraceptive. Although this isn’t our primary USP, it’s definitely a useful secondary feature. Whilst the gel is plant-based and vegan friendly, we also want to be sustainable with our production moving forward and plan to use bioreactors for scalable mass production, keeping our footprint small, reducing logistical costs and saving precious resources as well as time. All of this will allow us to keep our product affordable for everyone so it can reach and help everyone.
What most excites you about the sexual health/women’s health industry?
I think the fact that it’s taboo! I love trying to change the narrative and reverse the stigma in the sexual health industry. I come from a very conservative background in Cornwall, where sexual health was never spoken about, not even women’s health (beyond don’t have sex, if you have sex you will get pregnant, no mention of STIs even!!). I’m excited to change that narrative, I want people to feel confident and have fun safely.
A discrete lubricant that lets either partner control their safety is a great way forward in this regard. No relying on one partner for all the protection. When I worked in a sexual health clinic, I saw so many patients with STI worries, mainly due to no fault of their own, like the condom breaking or even stealthing (removal of the condom during sex without consent). I want to help those people, to give them extra peace of mind.
Then when it comes to women’s health, that where my true passion lies. In my research I see so many women who want more options, more research into their health conditions. I work with Dr Charlotte on bacterial vaginosis (BV), we’re currently conducting a study into the impact it has on women’s lives. It was really important for me that James and I create a gel that not only prevents STIs but doesn’t harm the vaginal microbiome and cause issues like BV, as we want to help people. Not cause harm whilst preventing infections.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome along the way?
I think the biggest challenge has been deciding whether or not I’m willing to give up my research career for PHLYXR. Being a final year PhD student, with a body of work I truly love and am passionate about, it was definitely one of my biggest challenges. But I am fully committed to PHLYXR and now we’re in discussions with the Imperial Tech Transfer Office to continue working on PHLYXR in a university setting as we did all our initial pilot work outside academia!
What is your number one piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Don’t give up and go for every opportunity you see! And take failure as a lesson learned and always, always seek feedback. It’s the only way you’ll improve. Also take breaks, go on a holiday and take time off. You’ll feel better for it.
What can we hope to see from PHLYXR in the future?
We’re currently applying for grants to finish our in vitro testing before moving onto planning our clinical trials! We truly want a product that works and we know we have a lot to prove before it can launch but I’m confident we’ll get there!
