New Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Offers Even More Protection Than Current Vaccine

Researchers have made an important breakthrough in providing vaccines to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV). Researchers have announced that they have discovered a vaccine that offers protection against nine of the most harmful strains of HVP. This would provide even more protection than Gardasil, a vaccination that is already on the market.

In a recent press release, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia detailed their findings. Gardasil provides protection against two deadly strains of HPV. The new vaccination, called 'nine-valent,' provides protection from these two strains (four types in total), and an additional five other strains of HPV that can cause cancer.

The human papillomavirus is not curable, so researchers are focusing their efforts at vaccinations that would provide protection against contracting this sexually transmitted disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccination, Gardasil, in 20006. Gardasil provides protection against HPV strains 16 and 18. These two strains account for approximately 70 percent of all HPV-related cases of cervical cancer.

Gardasil also provides protection from HPV strains 6 and 11. These two strains account for approximately 90 percent of the cases of genital warts.

Researchers stated that these five types of HPV increase a woman's chance of having cervical cancer or another cervical disease. Also, while genital warts might go away on their own, this isn't the case for precancerious lesions in the cervix.

"We're testing Gardasil against three different doses of the investigational vaccine. This study will determine the best dose of the new vaccine and whether it is safe, well-tolerated and effective in preventing HPV infection and disease compared with what's already out there," said Dr. Daron Ferris, family medicine physician and director of the MCG Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center.

About the study
In conducting clinical trials, researchers are giving subjects either Gardasil or the new vaccine, nine-valent. Therefore, all participants will be protected against at least two strains of HPV, and possibly more strains (if they received the nine-valent vaccination).

Calling this a win-win situation for participants, they are still enrolling women in their clinical trial. As of the time of this article, the study was only open for non-pregnant, healthy women between the ages of 16 to 26 who did not have a history of abnormal Pap tests.

Participants will have between five to 11 office visits over a time frame of between seven months to 3 ½ years. Both pelvic and physical exams, HPV testing, and pap smears will be provided. For more information, call Dr. Ferris' office at 706-721-2535.

Source:
https://my.mcg.edu/portal/page/portal/News/archive/2007/New%20HPV%20vaccine%20under%20study