The Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released a report highlighting the urgent need for therapeutic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) to tackle cervical cancer, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the disease burden is highest.
Although highly effective prophylactic HPV vaccines can prevent up to 98% of infections, millions of women remain unprotected due to delayed vaccine rollouts and limited access to screening and treatment services.
The report published on Gavi’s website on Saturday emphasized the severity of the issue, noting that cervical cancer claims one woman’s life every two minutes, according to a WHO report. In 2020 alone, the disease caused 342,000 deaths, with 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
In Africa, HPV vaccines were introduced only a decade ago, leaving many women unvaccinated and vulnerable. Gavi stressed the lifesaving potential of therapeutic vaccines for these women. Unlike prophylactic vaccines, which prevent infections, therapeutic vaccines are designed to treat existing infections by targeting precancerous or cancerous cells caused by HPV.
The WHO’s report offers guidance to researchers and manufacturers on developing therapeutic HPV vaccines, detailing preferred characteristics such as safety, efficacy, and immunization strategies. Currently, over 20 candidates are in development, with several undergoing clinical trials.
“Advances in immunotherapy are ushering in a new wave of vaccines that not only prevent infections but also treat diseases after they’ve developed,” the report stated. The first therapeutic vaccine, Provenge, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 for advanced prostate cancer, paving the way for similar breakthroughs in diseases like HIV and HPV.
In high-income countries, cervical cancer screening and early treatment through surgery are widely accessible. However, many women in lower-income countries lack access to these services. A therapeutic vaccine, the report noted, could dramatically reduce cervical cancer deaths globally and bridge this gap in healthcare equity.
This development represents a significant step forward in combating cervical cancer and addressing global health inequities, offering hope to millions of women worldwide at risk of preventable deaths.
