GSK HPV Vaccine Produces Stronger Immune Response In Girls Ages 10 - 14 Than In Older Women

GlaxoSmithKline's experimental human papillomavirus vaccine, Cervarix, produces a stronger immune response in girls ages 10 to 14 than in girls and women ages 15 to 25, according to results of a Phase III clinical trial announced by the company on Saturday, Reuters reports (Pierson, Reuters, 12/17). Cervarix in early clinical trials was 100% effective in preventing HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/6). In the Phase III trial, which was conducted in Europe and Russia, 158 girls ages 10 to 14 and 458 girls and women ages 15 to 25 were given three doses of Cervarix over a six-month period. At the end of the trial, "concentrations of antibodies to the virus were twice as high in the bloodstreams of the young girls," Gary Dubin, a senior research official at GSK and lead author of the study, said (Reuters, 12/17). According to Dow Jones, the stronger immune response in girls ages 10 to 14 indicates that vaccinating at a younger age might provide a "longer duration of protection" from HPV (Dow Jones, 12/17). "Vaccination of pre-teen/adolescent girls against cancer-causing HPV before onset of sexual activity will be an important part of the overall strategy for cervical cancer prevention," Anna-Barbara Moscicki, a pediatrics professor at the University of California-San Francisco, said (AFP/Yahoo! News, 12/17). GSK, which plans to submit an application for approval of Cervarix in Europe and elsewhere in 2006, said it plans to recommend the vaccine for girls as young as age 10. Merck earlier this month filed for priority FDA review of its experimental HPV vaccine Gardasil, which also has been found to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/6).


"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


View drug information on Cervarix [Human Papillomavirus Bivalent; Gardasil.

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