New Cervical Cancer
Vaccine More Effective in Younger Girls
December 18th
2005
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Cancer Prevention |
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Clinical trials
indicated that the new GlazoSmithKline uterine cancer vaccine Cervarix
may be twice as effective for younger girls. The results of the third
phase of the trials compared the immune response of girls between the
ages of 10 to 14 and girls between the ages of 15 and 24.
The clinical
trials were conducted in Europe and Russia by the European drug maker
Glaxo. They involved 158 girls in the lower age group and 458 girls in
the older age group. Each girl received three doses of vaccine over a
six month period.
The vaccine
offered double the protective power for the younger group. Forbes
reported that Anna-Barbara Moscicki, a pediatrics professor from the
University of California said “'Vaccination of pre-teen/adolescent girls
against cancer-causing HPV (Human Papillomavirus) before onset of sexual
activity will be an important part of the overall strategy for cervical
cancer prevention.”
Cervarix could
offer a more “durable and efficient protection” if given to younger
girls before they become sexually active. The immune response was twice
as effective. According to Australian website Leading the Charge, the
senior researcher at Glaxo said “The
concentrations of antibodies to the virus were twice as high in the
bloodstreams of the young girls.”
Antibodies are
immune system proteins that seek out and destroy bacteria and viruses.
If a vaccine is introduced into the body with snippets of a specific
bacteria or virus the body will learn to deal with and fight off the
virus or bacteria.
Another similar
product has been developed by Merck called Gardasil. Merck’s vaccine is
already awaiting approval from US and European regulators. Like
Cervarix, Gardasil will also block two strains of human papillomavirus
responsible for 70% of all cervical cancer cases.
The results of
phase 3 clinical trials were presented at the annual Conference on
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy under way this weekend in
Washington. The trials were also financed by Glaxo.
By Dan Wilson
Best Syndication Staff Writer
Related Books
Keywords & misspellings: cGlaxo
Smith Kline Servical Canser Cerverix Gardisil Merk papilomavirus
Servarix Serverix cirvical urope prevent |
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