Futura's two condom products are aimed at improving the sex lives of healthy men and women. In 2006, the global condom market was worth US$3.1 billion. Our distribution partner SSL International plc, the makers of Durex® are the global leader with a 35% market share.
CSD500, the Condom Safety Device, will be a condom to be used by healthy men to help maintain a full erection during intercourse whilst wearing a condom.
Futura recently announced positive results from a user study of CSD500. Of those who expressed a preference a significant proportion of both men and women reported improvements in the firmness of the man’s erection during intercourse when using CSD500, compared to using a normal condom, a result that was highly statistically significant. Furthermore, of those who expressed a preference, a significant proportion of both men and women also felt that CSD500 increased the penis size and a significant proportion of women reported a longer lasting sexual experience with CSD500.
In the UK a government report from the Public Health Laboratory Service has shown that in the last 10 years new cases of syphilis have increased by 600%, HIV by 300% and gonorrhoea and chlamydia by 200%. The safe sex message is not getting through and this may partly be linked to the fact that some healthy men can experience a loss of sensitivity when using a condom. This in turn can contribute to a partial loss of rigidity during intercourse and therefore discourage some men from always wearing a condom during intercourse.
Market research conducted by Futura shows that up to 22% of healthy men can sometimes suffer a partial loss of erection during intercourse when wearing a condom. This may in part explain the growing trend of men to be reluctant to practice safe sex. The Directors believe that CSD500, by helping men maintain a full erection whilst wearing a condom, may help promote condom usage and compliance.
Market research commissioned by Futura has shown that the product has significant commercial potential:
- 88% of existing condom users would be interested in purchasing CSD500
- 49% of non-condom users would be interested in purchasing CSD500
FLD500, the Female Lubrication Device, will be a sister product to CSD500. It will be a condom to be used by healthy men but with the active compound applied to the outside of a condom helping healthy women maintain natural lubrication, reducing the risk of discomfort and condom failure. Market research commissioned by Futura in respect of FLD500 has shown that:
- Up to 40 percent of condoms are purchased by women
- There was a high level of appeal amongst women for FLD500, which was perceived to be a unique product providing a competitive advantage for better and safer sex.
As part of the Government's sexual health strategy to try to combat the increase in sexually transmitted infections ("STIs"), it has been recommended that sexual health education be included within the national curriculum. For further information on the Government's sexual health strategy please follow this link.