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February 22, 2006

Glaxo cervical cancer shot shows 4-year benefits

Topics: Medicine

Cervical cancer is a major global health problem, with nearly 500,000 new cases occurring each year worldwide. It is the second most common cancer - and the third leading cause of cancer deaths - in women worldwide. Each year an estimated 270,000 women die from the disease, and it is the leading cancer killer of women in the developing world.

HPV infection is the necessary cause of cervical cancer (and a large percentage of oral cancer), and there are many oncogenic types of HPV; however, approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases are associated with only two of the oncogenic types, HPV 16 and HPV 18.

However, thanks to a new vaccine, there's hope in the fight to prevent the disease. According to data presented on Tuesday, GlaxoSmithKline Plc's experimental cervical vaccine Cervarix provides 100 percent protection over four years against cervical lesions,

The findings, presented at a meeting in Atlanta of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, maintain the results of earlier studies showing no evidence of waning protection against two key virus types, HPV 16 and HPV 18.

Posted by Richard at February 22, 2006 2:31 AM

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