GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has entered a new commitment with the GAVI Alliance to supply its cervical cancer vaccine as part of a new long term programme to help protect girls against cervical cancer in the world’s poorest countries. To begin this programme, and for next two years, GSK will supply doses of Cervarix (Human Papillomavirus vaccine [Types 16, 18] (Recombinant, adjuvanted, adsorbed)) to four new GAVI demonstration projects at a significantly discounted price of $4.60 per dose.

Christophe Weber, president and general manager, GSK Vaccines said, “Cervical cancer is a significant issue especially in poorer countries where the availability of screening is limited. We are pleased to be expanding our commitment to GAVI by delivering our Cervarix vaccine to help protect girls in the developing world. This continues our significant commitment to make our vaccines accessible to as many people as possible, no matter where in the world they live. We hope that this will help reduce the burden of cervical cancer and positively impact future generations.”

“A vast gap currently exists between girls in rich and poor countries. With GAVI’s programmes we can begin to bridge that gap so that all girls can be protected against cervical cancer no matter where they are born,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. “By 2020 we hope to reach more than 30 million girls in more than 40 countries. This is a transformational moment for the health of women and girls across the world. We thank the manufacturers for working with us to help make this happen.”

The approved GAVI demonstration programmes will begin over the coming months and will help build vital experience in delivering cervical cancer vaccines to girls aged nine years and over. The demonstration programmes will enable the countries to evaluate their ability to roll out national immunisation programmes.

GSK currently supplies more than 80 per cent of its total vaccine volumes to developing countries and is a long-standing partner with GAVI. This latest commitment adds to existing agreements to supply up to 480 million doses of its pneumococcal vaccine to GAVI over the next 10 years and 132 million doses of its rotavirus vaccine to GAVI over the next five years.

GSK has a long relationship with GAVI and has agreements in place to provide Rotarix (rotavirus vaccine, live, attenuated) and Synflorix (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (adsorbed)) to GAVI at significantly reduced prices to help accelerate access to vaccines in developing countries.

GSK is widely recognised for having sustainable access strategies for its vaccines and was again named number one on the Access to Medicines Index in 2012.

Cervical cancer is a significant problem in developing countries and it is estimated that, by 2030, 474,000 women per year will die of cervical cancer. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with more than 85 per cent of this global disease burden occurs in developing countries. With population growth and ageing, the number of cervical cancer cases is expected to increase 1.5 fold by 2030.

Cervarix is a vaccine that helps protect girls and women against cervical cancer. In clinical trials, the most common adverse events after vaccination with Cervarix were injection site reactions (such as pain, redness, swelling), headache, muscle pain and fatigue.

Since its launch in 2007, Cervarix has become available in 126 high, middle and low income countries around the world. In 2009, Cervarix was awarded prequalification status by the WHO enabling UN agencies and the GAVI Alliance to purchase the vaccine in partnership with developing countries at affordable prices. The vaccine is manufactured at GSK Vaccines HQ in Wavre, Belgium.

Cervarix is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies and Rotarix and Synflorix are trademarks of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.