First Cervical Cancer Vaccine Made in India to be Launched

The scientific completion of Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer was announced by the Union Minister of Science and Technology on September 1 2022. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally despite being largely preventable, according to the WHO. In 2018, an estimated 570,00 women were diagnosed with the disease and it accounted for 311,000 deaths across the world.

Cervical Cancer Prevalence In India

India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer, with 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year. Almost all cervical cancer cases are linked to certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that is transmitted through sexual contact.

While the body’s immune system usually gets rid of the HPV infection naturally within two years, in a small percentage of people the virus can linger over time and turn some normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Screening and vaccination are two powerful tools that are available for preventing cervical cancer. Still, there is little awareness among women about the prevention of this cancer and less than 10% of Indian women get screened.

All women aged 30-49 must get screened for cervical cancer even if they have no symptoms and get their adolescent daughters vaccinated with the HPV vaccine.

Developing New cervical cancer vaccine in India

Cervavac was developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India in coordination with the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The project to develop the vaccine was implemented by the then secretary of the DBT, Dr. M K Bhan in 2011.

Since then, 30 meetings of scientific advisory groups and site visits conducted by DBT have helped review the scientific merit of the entire journey to develop the vaccine. As per indications from the Serum Institute of India, the cost would approximate between Rs 200 to 400.

Cervavac received market authorization approval from the Drug Controller General of India on July 12 2022. HPV vaccines are given in two doses and data has shown that the antibodies that develop after both are administered can last up to six or seven years.

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Until now, the HPV vaccines available in India were produced by foreign manufacturers at an approximate cost of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 per dose. Cervavac is likely to be significantly cheaper, slated to cost approximately Rs 200 to 400. It has also demonstrated a robust antibody response that is nearly 1,000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types and in all dose and age groups.

The biggest task will be in allocating adequate resources and manpower for vaccinating the massive demographic of adolescent girls aged between 9 and 15, to ensure that they are protected from HPV early on.

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Those accessing public health programs will get the vaccine free of cost at government-aided schools. However concerted efforts will have to be made to ensure the involvement of private healthcare facilities and NGOs towards an effective rollout.



Source-Medindia