The Drugs Controller General of India's (DCGI) Subject Expert Committee has recommended Serum Institute's indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for cervical cancer patients belonging to the age group of nine to 26 years.
Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus, and are sexually transmitted.
The SII's tetravalent or quadrivalent HPV vaccine includes L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) of serotypes 6, 11, 16, and 18. A quadrivalent vaccine works by stimulating an immune response against four different antigens, such as four different viruses or other microorganisms. The L1 protein is sufficient to form virus-like particles, which are molecules that mimic viruses but are not infectious. HPV vaccines are important because they could reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by the human papillomavirus. More than 95 per cent of cervical cancer is caused by sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. This is the fourth most common type of cancer in women globally, with 90 per cent of these women living in low-and middle-income countries.