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'Conquer HPV' Conclave Begins

The "Conquer HPV (Human papillomavirus) & Cancer Conclave 2025" was launched here on Saturday (May 31) as part of a nationwide public health initiative led by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

India continues to face a significant burden of HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country, said a release issued here.

According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), India reports over 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and over 77,000 related deaths annually. Apart from this, up to 90% of anal cancers & 63% of penile cancers are associated with HPV, it said.

Speakers at a discussion held here on the public health implications of HPV said that early awareness and timely prevention were essential, with peak HPV infection occurring between the ages of 15 to 25, according to the release.

Published - May 31, 2025 09:14 pm IST

China Approves First Domestically Produced Nine-valent HPV Vaccine

China approved its first domestically developed nine-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine on Thursday, according to the National Medical Products Administration.

The vaccine, Cecolin 9, was jointly developed by the Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University and Wantai BioPharm. Its approval makes China the second country in the world – after the United States – with the capability to independently supply high-valency HPV vaccines.

Since 2019, the vaccine has been through five clinical trials conducted across China, involving more than 11,000 healthy volunteers aged nine to 45.

Results from these trials showed that the vaccine provides strong protection against HPV types 16 and 18 – the same strains covered by the two-valent vaccine – as well as five other HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, with a protection rate of over 98 percent against persistent infections lasting more than 12 months and a 100 percent protection rate against cervical infections.

For girls aged nine to 17, just two doses are sufficient to produce an immune response comparable to that seen in women aged 18 to 26 who receive three doses. For girls aged 15 to 17, it is currently the only two-dose HPV vaccine available in China.

A comparative study showed that the new vaccine offers immune responses comparable with similar international products for at least 30 months after full immunization. These findings have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The new vaccine is the latest achievement from the research team that also developed China's first domestically made two-valent HPV vaccine in 2019. In 2021, the two-valent HPV vaccine received prequalification from the World Health Organization and has since entered the markets of 21 countries.

Cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide in 2022, according to the WHO. China made free HPV vaccination accessible to approximately 40 percent of girls aged 13 to 14 in 2024, as part of its ongoing work to tackle cervical cancer, according to the National Health Commission.

Serum Institute Launches Nationwide Campaign To Raise Awareness On HPV-cancer

File picture: An employee in personal protective equipment (PPE) prepares before operating a filling machine inside a lab at Serum Institute of India, Pune.Photo Credit: FRANCIS MASCARENHAS

The "Conquer HPV and Cancer Conclave 2025" was launched in Pune today as part of a nationwide public health initiative led by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

India continues to grapple with a significant burden of HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women in the country. According to the ICO/ IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), India records more than 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and over 77,000 deaths annually due to the disease. Additionally, HPV is linked to up to 90 per cent of anal cancers and 63 per cent of penile cancers.

A panel of medical specialists engaged in a detailed discussion on the public health challenges posed by HPV. The panel emphasised the urgent need to raise awareness about HPV, particularly among adolescents and their parents, and highlighted the vital role of healthcare providers in guiding preventive care.

Speakers pointed out that HPV is not limited to cervical cancer — it is also linked to cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx, affecting both men and women. Since HPV infection peaks between the ages of 15 and 25, early awareness and timely preventive measures are crucial. With an affordable HPV vaccine now available, it is easier than ever to protect individuals from HPV-related cancers.

"Through these conclaves held across the country, we aim to increase understanding of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its link to cervical and other cancers," said Parag Deshmukh, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India. "By bringing together medical experts, healthcare workers, and community members, the forum encourages open dialogue and practical steps toward early detection and prevention."

The Pune conclave concluded with a dialogue involving audience members, reinforcing the broader goal of the campaign: to reduce the burden of preventable cancers through informed decision-making and community engagement. The initiative will continue in cities across the country in the coming months, creating platforms for credible voices in healthcare to educate and empower the public.

Published on May 30, 2025

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