Long-lasting effect of vaccine targeting nine HPV subtypes

© MedUni Wien

A vaccine which the Medical University of Vienna helped to develop and which was licensed in 2015 to combat nine subtypes of the HPV virus (human papilloma virus) was shown to have a sustainable effect in a six-year long-term trial in women aged between 16 and 26.

It has the potential to prevent about 90% of all cases of disease triggered by the human papilloma virus. The results were published recently in the top scientific journal “Lancet”.

The new vaccine is 20% more effective than the first generation of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer, and up to 30% more effective in preventing the precursors of cervical cancer and up to 15% in preventing other types of HPV related cancer (e.g. vaginal or anal carcinoma). The level of protection is up to 98%.