Cervarix Vaccine For Preventing Cervical Cancer
Filed Under (Cancer) by David on 10-12-2009
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Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) has been approved to prevent cervical cancer and precancerous lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in girls and women 10 through 25 years of age. HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancers worldwide.
In a clinical study involving more than 18,000 women 15 years through 25 years of age, the vaccine was about 93% effective in preventing precancerous cervical lesions caused by these HPV types among participants who had not already been infected by types 16 and/or 18 before the start of the study. Cervarix was approximately 53% effective in preventing precancerous cervical lesions among all Cervarix vaccinees, which -ncluded those who tested negative for HPV types 16 and/or 18 and those who tested positive at the start of the study. In other studies, girls 10 through 14 years of age had an immune response that was similar to that of the older group.
The vaccine provides protection for approximately 6.4 years; it does not protect against current HPV infections at the time of vaccination or against HPV types not in the vaccine. Therefore, regular Pap tests are still recommended for all patients receiving Cervarix.
Pregnant women or women who think that they might be pregnant or who plan to become pregnant during the vaccination course should not use Cervarix.
The vaccine is administered in three separate injections. The initial dose is followed by two additional injections at one and six months.
Source: FDA, October 19, 2009