GSK Presents Efficacy Data For Cervarix Trial

Published: 07-Jul-2009

Drug effective at protecting against cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus types, 16 and 18

GlaxoSmithKline announces the final analysis of the efficacy trial of a cervical cancer vaccine. The study, involving 18,644 women, confirmed GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix is effective at protecting against the two most common cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types, 16 and 18.

The study also showed that the vaccine provides cross-protection against HPV types 31, 33 and 45, the three most common cancer-causing virus types beyond 16 and 18.

Thomas Breuer, Head of Global Clinical R&D and Chief Medical Officer of GSK Biologicals, said: “These excellent study results confirm the efficacy offered by Cervarix against HPV 16 and 18. For the first time the results show that this vaccine was effective against cervical pre-cancers associated with the five most common cancer-causing virus types. This is really good news for primary prevention of cervical cancer as it indicates the vaccine could offer women additional protection against cervical cancer beyond what had at first been anticipated.”

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