GSK HPV data supports prophylactic strategy

New clinical data presented at the European Research Organisation on Genital Infection and Neoplasia congress (EUROGIN) shows that the majority of women could potentially benefit from vaccination against cervical cancer with the vaccine Cervarix, according to its maker UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline. This is indicated to prevent precancerous lesions and cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18.

GSK launched Cervarix to health care professionals at EUROGIN after the European Commission granted marketing authorization, for all 27 European Union member states last month. Data from two Phase III trials presented at the conference, involving over 24,000 women of a broad age range, show that, at the time of vaccination, less than 1% are actively infected (DNA positive) with both HPV 16 and 18. This highlights that the vast majority of women should benefit from a preventive approach against cervical cancer caused by HPV 16 and 18.