New changes to shift the use of GSK and MSD’s HPV vaccines

Pharma News: To mark International HPV Awareness Day on March 4th 2022, the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) has welcomed two major advances in the elimination of cervical and anal cancers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of young adolescents with 2- and 3-dose schedules of GSK’s Cervarix and MSD’s Gardasil (distributed by Seqirus Australia) has been the recommended standard of care for several years in Australia and other countries. According to a recent landmark study, cervical cancer rates are 87% lower in women who were offered HPV vaccination when they were between the ages of 12-13 than in previous generations.

The UK Government’s Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunisation has just issued interim advice recommending a major shift to a single dose vaccine schedule.

The proposed change has been warmly welcomed by International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) President Prof Suzanne Garland who said “The evidence that a single dose vaccine schedule for HPV offers a high degree of protection against the types of HPV that cause cancer is now clear. The benefits of this, in terms of logistics, workforce and costs represent a potential game-changer, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. One less jab and the elimination of cervical cancer within a generation would really mean one less worry for the world.”

Another significant recent breakthrough in the prevention of HPV-related cancer is the ANCHOR study into anal cancer prevention which found that pre-cancerous changes in the anus can be treated to halt progression of anal cancer in a similar way to cervical cancer. Over 50,000 people are diagnosed with anal cancer each year.

Trial lead Dr Joel Palefsky said “Almost all cases of cervical and anal cancer are caused by HPV and while vaccination provides a first line of defence, for many people who either missed out on vaccination, or who simply aren’t covered by local vaccination policies, there has been no effective tool to prevent anal cancer. It is exciting that, for the first time, we have clear evidence of an approach that could reduce anal cancer for both men and women.” 

In response to Health Industry Hub‘s media query on the anticipated changes to HPV vaccine doses impacting Australians, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) referred the questions to “Department of Health and/or ATAGI as this would be a matter for them.”