Cervarix effective against more viruses

As well as protecting against the two most common cervical cancer-causing viruses, the vaccine Cervarix also provides protection against the next three most common cancer-causing virus types, according to a study published in Tuesday’s issue of The Lancet.

The vaccine’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, said the additional efficacy could translate into approximately 11 to 16 percent extra protection against cervical cancer over and above the protection afforded by efficacy against the two most common types alone.

It is the first time for any cervical cancer vaccine that significant protection has been shown against pre-cancerous lesions not containing the two most common virus types, Glaxo said in a statement.

“This is really good news for primary prevention of cervical cancer as it indicates the vaccine could offer women additional protection ... beyond what had at first been anticipated,” said Thomas Breuer, head of global clinical R&D at GSK Biologicals.

Glaxo is waiting for approval in the U.S. market for Cervarix. U.S. approval was delayed in June last year after Glaxo said it would add results of a further study to its application with the Food and Drug Administration in response to agency questions.

Cervarix is already approved in more than 90 countries. Merck & Co Inc’s Gardasil also protects against the sexually transmitted cancer-causing human papillomavirus.

SOURCE: Lancet, online July 7, 2009.