Long-term follow-up of a quadrivalent HPV vaccine

Abstract

Evaluation of: Villa LL, Costa RL, Petta CA et al. High sustained efficacy of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like particle vaccine through 5 years of follow up. Br. J. Cancer 95(11), 1459–1466 (2006).

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes genital warts and cervical cancers. A number of preventive HPV vaccines have been developed. Follow-up of patients who were enrolled in initial efficacy trials of these vaccines is ongoing. Such trials have proven HPV vaccines to be effective in preventing persistent infection and cervical disease; however, long-term safety, efficacy and immunogenicity can only be ascertained by longer-term follow-up. At 5 years’ follow-up, the prophylactic quadrivalent HPV vaccine targeting HPV 6/11/16/18 demonstrates an excellent safety profile and continues to prevent persistent infection and disease. The need for booster immunizations continues to be under review.

Keywords::

• cervical cancer prevention
• human papillomavirus
• prevention of genital warts
• vaccine