Cervical Cancer Candidate Vaccine Provides Sustained Immune Response in Women up to Age 55

Phase III data showed that at 18 months after the first of a three-dose regimen, 100% of women up to age 55 vaccinated with the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) cervical cancer candidate vaccine (Cervarix) had antibodies present against the two most common cancer-causing human papillomavirus types, 16 and 18. These data indicate that the vaccine, formulated with a proprietary adjuvant system called AS04, is highly immunogenic and generally well-tolerated, with antibody levels at least 10 times greater than those produced by natural infection. These extended follow-up data were presented at this year's ASCO annual meeting (abstract 3007).

"Previous natural infection with these cancer-causing human papillomavirus types may not confer lifelong protection. Thus, women of all ages may be at risk for future infection," said Prof. Tino F. Schwarz, Stiftung Juliusspital, Wuerzburg, Germany, the lead study investigator. "In fact, the older a woman is when infected, the more likely that the infection will become persistent, which may lead to the development of precancerous lesions. These GSK cervical cancer vaccine study results suggest that many women could potentially benefit from vaccination against cervical cancer."