GlaxoSmithKline announces statistical models’ results

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the immune response of Cervarix may be prolonged for “at least” 20 years, for HPV (human papillomavirus) 16 and 18.

The announcement follows results of three statistical models – power-law, modified power-law and piece-wise – which aimed to successfully predict the long-term persistance of antibodies against the two types of the condition.

Results of the tests show that young women vaccinated with Cervaris could have a prolonged immune response against the cancer-causing virus, as the amount of antibodies remains higher than those seen following natural infection for over 20 years.

At the moment, there are approximately 100 types of HPV that have been identified and, of these, roughly 15 virus types are known to cause cervical cancer.

Dr Koen Van Herck of the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination in Antwerp, Belgium said: “Predicting the levels of antibodies generated and sustained against HPV 16/18 is important as long as we have no better options to directly measure duration of protection.”

He added that the long term immune response is “particularly important when vaccinating adolescents and young women against cervical cancer”.

GlaxoSmithKline has said that it spends more than £300,000 ever hour to find new medicines.