GSK Begins Distributing HPV Vaccine Cervarix In Philippines; Gardasil Approved In Spain

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 30 Aug 2007 - 12:00 PST

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GlaxoSmithKline on Saturday began distributing its human papillomavirus vaccine Cervarix in Manila, Philippines, less than one month after the country's Bureau of Food and Drugs approved the vaccine, the AP/CNNMoney.com reports (AP/CNNMoney.com. 8/25). Cervarix has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Researchers in a 2006 study published in the online edition of the Lancet also found that Cervarix prevented infection with HPV strains 31 and 45, which together with strains 16 and 18 cause more than 80% of cervical cancer cases (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/15).

The Philippines food and drugs bureau last year also approved Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil (AP/CNNMoney.com, 8/25). Gardasil has shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18 and about 99% effective in preventing HPV strains 6 and 11, which together with strains 16 and 18 cause about 90% of genital wart cases, among women not already infected with these strains (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/20).

In related news, Spain's government on Friday said it had approved Gardasil for use in the country, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/24).

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