GlaxoSmithKline signs cervical cancer vaccine supply agreement

GlaxoSmithKline has announced a new commitment to the GAVI Alliance that will contribute to efforts to combat the spread of cervical cancer in developing nations.

To help kickstart this long-term programme, GlaxoSmithKline will supply doses of its vaccine product Cervarix to four new GAVI demonstration projects at a significantly discounted price over the next two years.

These programmes will begin in the coming months and will help build vital experience in delivering cervical cancer vaccines to girls aged nine years and over, allowing the countries in question to better plan the rollout of national immunisation programmes.

GlaxoSmithKline currently supplies more than 80 percent of its total vaccine volumes to developing countries and is a long-standing partner of the GAVI Alliance.

Christophe Weber, president and general manager for GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, said: "We hope that this will help reduce the burden of cervical cancer and positively impact future generations."

This comes in the same week that GlaxoSmithKline pledged five million pounds in funding to the Wellcome Trust to support the creation of treatments for diseases affecting poorer countries.