A final analysis of Phase III study data published Tuesday in The Lancet suggests that GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine Cervarix protects against the five most common cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types. The vaccine is the first to show significant cross-protection against pre-cancerous lesions not containing the two most common virus types, the drugmaker said.

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The HPV-008 trial randomised 18644 women aged between 15 years and 25 years to receive either Cervarix or a control vaccine in three doses over six months. The analysis showed that Cervarix was effective at protecting against the two most common cancer-causing HPV types, 16 and 18, which account for 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases, as well as against the three next most common cancer-causing types, 31, 33 and 45. GlaxoSmithKline said that the additional efficacy could translate into approximately 11 percent to 16 percent extra protection against cervical cancer over and above the protection afforded by efficacy against HPV types 16 and 18 alone.

Cervarix is currently under review by the FDA following the submission of the final HPV-008 trial data to the agency in March. The vaccine has been approved in more than 90 countries globally, including the member countries of the EU.

Source: FirstWord

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