Cervarix is designed to prevent infection from HPV types 16 and 18, that cause about 70% of
cervical cancer cases.[6] These types also cause most HPV-induced genital and
head and neck cancers. Additionally, some cross-reactive protection against virus strains 45 and 31 were shown in clinical trials.[7] Cervarix also contains
AS04, a proprietary
adjuvant that has been found to boost the
immune system response for a longer period of time.[8]
Cervarix is manufactured by
GlaxoSmithKline. An alternative product, from
Merck & Co., is known as
Gardasil.[6] Cervarix was voluntarily taken off of the market in the US in 2016 due to low demand.[9]
Medical uses
HPV is a virus, usually transmitted sexually, which can cause cervical cancer in a small percentage of those women genital infected. Cervarix is a preventative HPV vaccine, not therapeutic. HPV immunity is type-specific, so a successful series of Cervarix shots will not block infection from cervical cancer-causing HPV types other than HPV types 16 and 18 and some related types, so experts continue to recommend routine cervical
Pap smears even for women who have been vaccinated. Vaccination alone, without continued screening, would prevent fewer cervical cancers than regular screening alone.[10][11]
Cervarix is indicated for the prevention of the following diseases caused by oncogenic HPV types 16 and 18: cervical cancer,
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse and adenocarcinoma in situ, and CIN grade 1. In the United States, Cervarix is approved for use in females 10 through 25 years of age[12] while in some other countries the age limit is at least 45.[13]
As of September 2009[update], Cervarix was shown to be effective 7.3 years after vaccination.[14]
Administration
Immunization with Cervarix consists of 3 doses of 0.5-mL each, by intramuscular injection according to the following schedule: 0, 1, and 6 months.[6] The preferred site of administration is the deltoid region of the upper arm.[6] Cervarix is available in 0.5-mL single-dose vials and prefilled TIP-LOK syringes.[12]
Limitations of effectiveness
Cervarix does not provide protection against disease due to all HPV types, nor against disease if a woman has previously been exposed through sexual activity and protection may not be obtained by all recipients.[12] It is therefore recommended that women continue to adhere to cervical cancer screening procedures.[citation needed]
Adverse effects
The most common local adverse reactions in ≥20% of patients were pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site.[citation needed]
The most common general adverse events in ≥20% of subjects were fatigue, headache, muscle pain (
myalgia), gastrointestinal symptoms, and joint pain (
arthralgia).[12]
In common with some other prefilled syringe vaccination products, the tip cap and the rubber plunger of the needleless prefilled syringes contain dry natural latex rubber that may cause
allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals.[15] The vial stopper does not contain latex.
Human papillomavirus type 16 L1 protein 20 micrograms
Human papillomavirus type 18 L1 protein 20 micrograms
AS04 adjuvant, containing: 3-O-desacyl-4'- monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) 50 micrograms adsorbed on
aluminium hydroxide, hydrated (Al(OH)3) 0.5 milligrams Al 3+ in total
Biotechnology
Cervarix is created using the L1 protein of the viral
capsid. L1 protein is in the form of non-infectious
virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by
recombinant DNA technology using a
Baculovirus expression system which uses
High Five Rix4446 cells derived from the insect
Trichoplusia ni. The vaccine contains no live virus and no DNA, so it cannot infect the patient.[12]
History
The research findings that pioneered the development of the vaccine began in 1991 by The University of Queensland investigators
Jian Zhou and
Ian Frazer in Australia . Researchers at
UQ found a way to form non-infectious virus-like particles (VLP), which could also strongly activate the immune system. Subsequently, the final form of the vaccine was developed in parallel, by researchers at
Georgetown University Medical Center, the
University of Rochester, the
University of Queensland in Australia, and the U.S.
National Cancer Institute.[17]
As of 2009, the manufacturer was conducting a trial to compare the immunogenicity and safety of Cervarix with
Gardasil.[19] Subsequent studies showed Cervarix generated higher
antibody levels than Gardasil, the other commercially available HPV vaccine, upon testing seven months later, with twice the level for HPV type 16 and six times for HPV type 18.[20]
Society and culture
Legal status
Australia - Cervarix received approval in May 2007 in Australia for women ages 10 to 45.[13]
Philippines - On 25 August 2007, GlaxoSmithKline launched Cervarix in the Philippines after approval by the local Bureau of Food and Drugs.[21]
European Union - Cervarix was approved in September 2007 in the European Union.[22]
United States - The FDA approved Cervarix on 16 October 2009.[23][24]
On 29 March 2007, GlaxoSmithKline submitted a
Biologic License Application (BLA) for Cervarix (human papillomavirus vaccine, AS04 adjuvant-adsorbed), to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which included data from clinical trials in almost 30,000 females 10 to 55 years of age and contains data from the largest Phase III cervical cancer vaccine efficacy trial to that date.[25]
GSK had awaited results of further trials to submit to the FDA. Approval had not been expected before late 2009.[26]
In the United Kingdom it was included in the national vaccination programme for teenage and pre-teenage girls aged 12–13 and 17–18 from September 2008 to August 2012. This caused some controversy since Cervarix was chosen over
Gardasil, even though Gardasil protects against additional HPV types 6 and 11 (which cause
genital warts). However, the efficacy of Cervarix is higher.[27]
^"Archived copy"(PDF).
Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link)
^Schwarz, T. F. (2009). "Clinical update of the AS04-Adjuvanted human Papillomavirus-16/18 cervical cancer vaccine, cervarix®". Advances in Therapy. 26 (11): 983–998.
doi:
10.1007/s12325-009-0079-5.
PMID20024678.
S2CID44625098.
^Paavonen J, Naud P, Salmerón J, et al. (July 2009). "Efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine against cervical infection and precancer caused by oncogenic HPV types (PATRICIA): final analysis of a double-blind, randomised study in young women". Lancet. 374 (9686): 301–14.
doi:
10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61248-4.
PMID19586656.
S2CID1331989.