I first reported on the potential of this vaccine last year – Vaccinating against cervical cancer
Today we have widespread release of these data – Vaccine Prevents Most Cervical Cancer
The vaccine works by making people immune to two types of a sexually transmitted virus that cause most cases of the disease. It is the first successful vaccine ever developed specifically to prevent cancer.
The vaccine, Gardasil, is made by Merck & Company, which plans to apply for approval to the Food and Drug Administration before the end of this year and, if the vaccine is approved, to market it in 2006.
The previous article mentioned vaccinating both boys and girls prior to adolescence. This article only mentions girls.
The vaccination will require three shots over six months. Merck has not said what it will cost.
The ideal time to vaccinate girls is before they become sexually active and risk being exposed to one of the cancer-causing viruses, said Dr. Eliav Barr, a research director at Merck. Once cancer develops, it is too late for the vaccine to help. The median age at which girls first have sex in the United States is 15.
It is not known yet how long the protection from the vaccine will last, or whether booster shots will be necessary, Dr. Barr said.
Interesting data, but the big question is how to deliver the vaccine to less economically fortunate countries, where cervical cancer is a major killer.
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2 Responses to HPV vaccine works!
I. Breshinski
October 9th, 2005 at 1:43 pm
The HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough since it is the first time that a vaccine prevents cancer. The door is now open for a new direction for cancer prevention. It will proove to be cost effective and as such Third world countries will be able to immunize rather than buy diagnostic, surgical, medical, oncological teams to care for cervical cancer patients. Moreover, the cost is not tremendous and UNICEF should afford it. Lastly, this project costed Merck 500 million dollars and it is hoped that this glorious company will not go under due to the unjustified Vioxx litigation.
June
October 10th, 2005 at 8:33 am
Does this mean that women will need less HPV or Pap test in future ?