A new vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, which received a licence from drug safety authorities in the United States on Thursday, could be available in Europe by next year. Martin Wall reports.
The vaccine, called Gardasil, which is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur MSD, works by blocking certain types of human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted virus that causes genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer.
Data from international clinical trials has shown that the vaccine, when given to young women and girls (aged 9 to 26 years) could give 100 per cent protection against the changes in cells lining the cervix that forewarn of cancer (eg the cells are in a pre-cancerous state).
The manufacturer said yesterday that it had been in talks with the Department of Health about the introduction of the vaccine here.
Ireland has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in western Europe, with 180 new cases annually and an average of more than 70 deaths from the condition each year. The incidence of cervical cancer has been increasing by an average of 1.5 per cent per year since 1978. The manufacturer said that it had sought approval for Gardasil from the European drug regulatory agency and that it hoped to obtain this later this year.
It said that Gardasil would be priced at around €100 per dose. The Irish Cancer Society yesterday welcomed the announcement that the cervical cancer vaccine had received a licence from the FDA in the US.
However, it said that there was still a vital and urgent need for the introduction of a nationwide cervical cancer screening programme.
The society said that it understood that licences for the vaccine would be granted across Europe in mid-to-late 2007.
However, it said that the availability of the first vaccine should not lead to complacency about the absence of a nationwide cervical screening programme in Ireland for women aged 25-60. It said that such a programme would save lives.
A cervical cancer screening programme is currently available in the mid-western region.
The Irish Cancer Society said that the Government promised the introduction of a nationwide programme, which it said could reduce the incidence of the condition by up to 80 per cent, nine years ago. It forecast that an announcement of the roll-out of the nationwide programme could be made next week when the Government launches its new cancer strategy. Chief executive of the society John McCormack said yesterday: "Irish women have been let down on this issue by successive governments for nine years. Certainly the potential launch of Gardasil onto the Irish market over the next few years is good news for young women but does not negate the Government's responsibility to implement a properly organised, population-based, free nationwide cervical cancer screening programme for all women aged 25-60 years. The provision of cervical cancer screening is a basic healthcare service. We must not let women suffer and die needlessly from this wholly preventable disease."