Glaxo says cervical cancer vaccine works for longer

May 14, 2008

LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline said on Wednesday new data showed its Cervarix vaccine generated sustained, high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the two most common cervical cancer-causing virus types for 6.4 years.

Glaxo said on Wednesday the data, from an extended follow-up study, showed the longest duration of sustained neutralizing antibody levels reported against both virus types HPV 16 and 18 with a cervical cancer vaccine to date.

Experts believe that neutralizing antibodies -- so-called because they have the ability to neutralize cancer-causing virus types and prevent them from infecting cells in the cervix -- are essential for cervical cancer protection.