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
