Posted on Fri, Jul. 10, 2009
The World Health Organization approved GlaxoSmithKline PLC's cervical-cancer vaccine Cervarix for distribution to developing countries.
Glaxo, a London company with major operations in the Philadelphia region, said in a statement that the approval would help speed up access to Cervarix.
WHO had previously approved Gardasil, a competing vaccine made by Merck & Co. at its West Point, Pa., plant.
More than 80 percent of the estimated 280,000 cervical-cancer deaths a year occur in developing countries.
Dan Thomas, a spokesman for GAVI - the global health association formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and a major buyer of vaccines for the developing world - said the vaccine's price was essential to making it available to poor countries. In the West, the vaccines typically cost about $360 for a three-shot dose - which is far too expensive for poor countries, Thomas said.
It wasn't clear whether Merck or Glaxo might sell its vaccines to donor agencies at a discount.
Cervarix hasn't been approved for use in the United States or Japan, but is available in 97 other countries.
The FDA is expected to decide within the next few months whether to approve Cervarix.
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