5 year sustained efficacy of Gardasil®, the first and only vaccine available to prevent cervical cancer.
Maidenhead, 6th December 2006 - A long term follow up study published in the online edition of the British Journal of Cancer showed that Gardasil® prevented 100% of pre-cancerous cervical lesions and genital warts related to Human Papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 for up to five years, compared to placebo. Pre-cancerous cervical lesions (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade 2/3 - CIN2/3) are the immediate precursors of invasive cervical cancer.
"These results are very important. High and consistent efficacy has been observed for five years and is expected to be long-lasting," commented Dr Mike Watson, Executive Director European Clinical and Epidemiology, Sanofi Pasteur MSD.
Gardasil® is now available in the United Kingdom, having received a European licence on 20th September 2006. Gardasil® is also available in a number of European countries including Ireland, France and Germany and other countries will follow soon. National health authorities including the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are in the process of discussing vaccination recommendations and funding procedures for Human Papillomavirus vaccination. Decisions are expected in the near future.
Gardasil® is licensed for children and adolescents aged 9 to15 years and adult females aged 16 to 26 years for the prevention of:
- cervical carcinoma (cervical cancer)
- high grade cervical dysplasia (CIN 2/3)
- high grade vulvar dysplastic lesions (VIN 2/3)
- external genital warts (condyloma acuminata)
caused by Human Papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
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