Dual dose Cervarix (GSK) beneficial for Cervical Cancer

Results of a Phase III study of Cervical Cancer vaccine, Cervarix [Human papillomavirus (types 16 and 18) vaccine recombinant], from Glaxo Smith Kline, show that two doses of the vaccine in girls aged 9 to 14 years provide an immunogenicity matching the currently licensed three-dose schedule in 15 to 25 year olds. In the trial, HPV-070, 1,447 patients (aged 9 to 25 years) across five countries were randomised to receive Cervarix. The results showed that the two-dose schedule in girls aged 9 to 14 years old induced immune responses which were comparable to that seen with the 3 dose schedule in 15 to 25 year olds suggesting quality and quantity of the immune response are comparable to the three-dose schedule.

This corroborates findings of an earlier proof of concept study, HPV-048, and suggest that the immune response of the two-dose schedule in girls aged 9 to 14 years with Cervarix is in line with the three-dose schedule. Similarly, the safety profile is similar when compared to the three-dose group. The vaccine is currently only approved in the EU for use in females from the age of nine years. The results will be presented at the EUROGIN conference.