Biosimilar second-generation human papillomavirus vaccines
Mené en Chine sur 553 femmes âgées de 18 à 26 ans et sans antécédent de vaccination contre le papillomavirus humain (HPV), cet essai randomisé compare l'immunogénicité de l'unique vaccin de deuxième génération disponible (Gardasil 9) et d'un candidat-vaccin biosimilaire (Cecolin 9)
Feng-Cai Zhu and colleagues report a promising headto-head comparison of the immunogenicity of the only current second-generation human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil 9) with a biosimilar candidate vaccine, Cecolin 9, among women aged 18–26. Since WHO declared global elimination of cervical cancer as a prioritised goal, at least 123 countries have introduced vaccination against the cause of cervical cancer (HPV infection) into their national immunisation programmes. However, most countries—particularly in low-income and middle-Income countries (LMICs)—use the first-generation HPV vaccines that target only 2 of the oncogenic HPV types (HPV16 and HPV18), which are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. In 2014, a second-generation HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9), which also targets the HPV types 6, 11, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, was approved. The second-generation HPV vaccine protects against 90% of cervical cancers but has so far mostly been used in high-income countries (HICs). Although it is definitely a good idea to begin with eliminating the 2 most dangerous HPV types as soon as possible, it is an unacceptable situation that HICs have second-generation vaccines with higher protection than the first-generation vaccines used in LMICs.