HPV vaccine looks promising: Frazer

Positive results from a new phase II clinical trial of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardisil, developed from research originally conducted by Prof Ian Frazer's group at the University of Queensland, were presented at the 22nd International Papillomavirus Conference and Clinical Workshop held in Vancouver, Canada last week.

The trial results showed that Gardisil, a quadrivalent vaccine, provided 90 per cent more protection compared with a placebo for four strains of HPV: strains 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70 per cent of all cases of cervical cancer, and strains 6 and 11, which are responsible for 90 per cent of genital warts.

"There are three Phase II trials now published on the vaccine," said Frazer. "One of those was just presented in Vancouver. A Phase III trial is underway and near completion. It is a multicentre study with a very long list of investigators and the scope of it is something in the order of 25,000 patients."

There are about 120 strains of HPV in humans, and 12 of these are associated with cervical cancer. According to Frazer, almost all cervical cancer occurs in the developing world.

"Approximately one quarter of a million women die each year from cervical cancer -- 90 per cent of these women live in the developing world," said Frazer.

Frazer said the vaccine would be used as an adjunct to cervical cancer screening programs that are already in place. A prophylactic vaccine, it would be used to prevent HPV infection and thus help avoid diseases caused by HPV.

"It's very encouraging to see such good results coming out of Australian research," said Frazer. "It's a world first for Australian medical research, a vaccine against cancer, and I think with the results of the trials there's no reason why the vaccine won't be out and available next year."

Frazer began his research about 15 years and CSL have co-operated with him since 1989, overseeing the development of the vaccine. In 1995, CSL signed a license agreement with Merck, which gave Merck worldwide exclusive commercial rights in return for royalties and milestone payments to CSL. CSL retained the exclusive rights to market and sell the vaccine in Australia.