Last week brought exciting news about Merck’s vaccine candidate against human papilloma virus (HPV), GARDASIL. In an ongoing efficacy trial in women, the vaccine showed 100% protection against high-grade cervical pre-cancers and non-invasive cervical cancers (CIN 2/3 and AIS) associated with HPV types 16 and 18. There are over 100 subtypes of HPV but types 16 and 18 are thought to be responsible for around 70% of HPV-related cervical cancers. GARDASIL also targets two other subtypes, 6 & 11, that are associated with genital warts, but results on protection against these subtypes have yet to be presented. HPV also causes anal cancers in gay men and Merck has a large ongoing trial in this population that will hopefully show similar efficacy to that seen in women. A whole slew of articles appeared in the wake of Merck’s announcement (made in conjunction with a presentation at the IDSA meeting held last week in San Francisco). Here is a sampling of some of the more informative pieces:
New HPV vaccine may help gay men - Christopher Curtis, PlanetOut Network
Test Shows Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer - Linda A. Johnson AP Business Writer
Merck's HPV Vaccine in Phase III Trial 100% Effective for Two Strains Causing 70% of Cervical Cancer Cases - from Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, includes links to broadcast news stories
An excellent detailed background article on HPV vaccine development was published in GMHC's Treatment Issues just a couple of months ago:
Protecting Against HPV The Next Battleground? - by David Gilden, GMHC Treatment Issues May/June 2005
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