Cervarix: Effective vaccine against cervical cancer
Reported July 17, 2009
New Delhi, Jul 17 : A global efficacy trial of a cervical cancer vaccine, Cervarix, showed that it can offer protection against the five most common cancer-causing virus types.
Findings shared on Cervarix today confirmed the vaccine offers protection against five of the most common cancer-causing virus types and generates a significantly higher immune response compared to other available vaccine, Gardasil® and provides high and sustained antibody levels for at least 7.3 years till date.
This is the longest follow-up reported to date for any licensed HPV vaccine.
The study published in The Lancet involving 18,644 women showed that GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix is not only highly effective at protecting against the two most common cervical cancer-causing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types, 16 and 18, but also provides additional cross-protection against HPV types 31, 33 and 45, the three most common cancer-causing virus types beyond 16 and 18.
This additional efficacy could translate into approximately 11-16 per cent extra protection against cervical cancer, over and above the protection afforded by efficacy against HPV 16 and 18 alone.
In India, the five HPV types are responsible for almost 90 per cent cervical cancer cases.
“These results amply demonstrate that vaccination is one of the most effective methods of primary prevention of HPV infection, the necessary cause of cervical cancer. In tandem with screening tests, it is perfectly positioned to lend a decisive edge against the deadly cancer. Extending the scope of protection beyond types 16 and 18 will prevent a vast majority of cervical cancer cases in India. Preventive vaccination against cervical cancer has now come of age,” said Dr. Neerja Bhatla, Additional Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
While sharing the results of the second study- a Comparative Trial between Cervarix and Gardasil®, Dr Shailesh Mehta, Medical Director, Clinical R&D, Medical Affairs Biologicals – South Asia, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals
Limited, said, ” The comparative trial results presented first at the 25th International Papilloma virus conference demonstrated that GSK’s vaccine generates significant and higher immune response. In women aged 18-45 years who received all three doses, neutralizing antibody levels were over two times higher for HPV 16 and over six times higher for HPV 18 than those generated by Gardasil®.” “Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently awarded prequalification to Cervarix®. The WHO prequalification is necessary for UN agencies and the GAVI Alliance to purchase the vaccine in partnership with developing countries and will help speed up the access to Cervarix® globally.
“Vaccines is one of our key focus areas. And Cervarix is important because preventing cervical cancer is a public health priority in both the developed and developing countries,” said Dr Hasit Joshipura, Vice President, South Asia and Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, India.
Source : UNI