A new analysis is claiming that GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix protects against cervical cancer for more than six years without the need for a booster.
Data published in The Lancet looked at 776 females aged 15 to 25, 393 of whom received Cervarix which is approved to protect against the human papillomavirus strains 16 and 18. The results showed that after 6.4 years, vaccine efficacy against incident infection with HPV 16/18 was 95.3%, and 100% against 12-month persistent infection.
Cervarix also protected women against incident infection with HPV-31 and HPV-45, which are among the types most frequently associated with cervical cancer after HPV 16/18, “and are responsible for 10% of all cervical cancer cases,” wrote Cosette Wheeler, of the Health Sciences Center at the University of New Mexico, and colleagues.
The researchers noted that lthough further assessment is necessary to confirm long-term vaccine effects, “in view of the data from our study, we expect protection to continue for many more years”. They concluded that Cervarix shows “excellent long-term efficacy, high and sustained immunogenicity, and favourable safety”.
Meantime, the US Food and Drug Administration has told healthcare professionals that GSK has updated the label for Lexiva (fosamprenavir). A letter warns of a possible association between the HIV drug and myocardial infarction and dyslipidaemia.
GSK has modified the label to note that increases in cholesterol have occurred with treatment, the importance of lipids management, and a recommendation that triglyceride and cholesterol-testing be performed prior to initiating therapy with Lexiva and at periodic intervals during therapy.
