Cervical Cancer Vaccine, Gardasil, Gets FDA Approval

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Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Cancer / Oncology;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 08 Jun 2006 - 11:00 PDT

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Gardasil, an HPV vaccine which protects women from developing 70% of cervical cancers, has been approved for sale by the FDA. This is the first vaccine designed specifically to protect patients from cancer.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer as well as genital warts. Cervical cancer is the second largest killer of women among cancers worldwide.

Gardasil protects women from 4 types of HPV, including types 16 and 18, which cause 70% of all cervical cancers.

According to a study carried out by Gardasil makers, Merck, less than 20% of American women know that HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.

Over half a million women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year worldwide. In the USA, where Pap smear screening is more widespread than in the developing world, 14,000 women are diagnosed each year. 3,900 women die each year from cervical cancer in the USA.

Estimates say about 50% of all sexually active adults are infected with HPV.

GlaxoSmithKline is developing another vaccine, Cervarix, to protect from HPV. Cervarix does not protect from genital warts, Gardasil does. Gardasil protects women from 90% of all genital warts.

How widely the vaccine will be used in the USA will be better known when the CDC makes its recommendations on June 29. They will make a recommendation on various aspects of the vaccine, among which is at what age a girl should be given the vaccine. This will then decide whether or not Pediatricians include Gardasil in their childhood and adolescent vaccinations schedules.

Globally, nearly 300,000 women die each year as a result of cervical cancer. Merck says Gardasil could save the lives of nearly 200,000 of them each year.

A course of three shots over six months will cost from $300 to $500. This will be too expensive for some countries wishing to carry out a national vaccination program.

At first, there was some opposition to Gardasil. There was concern that vaccinated girls may become more sexually active at a younger age. This opposition soon ebbed when people realised how many lives could be saved.

Merck stressed that the vaccine should not replace screening. The company would like to see vaccinations given to girls before they become sexually active.

The vaccine is not recommended for people already infected with HPV as there is a higher risk of having precursors to cervical cancer.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today


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