Research efforts in the area of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is proving to be long drawn and tough for scientists in the academia and research hospitals, according to professor Peter L Stern head, Cancer Research UK Immunology Group, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester.

The papillomavirus studies conducted so far has led to the development of a vaccine but it has been difficult to understand the pathogenesis of the infections, stated professor Stern who was in India recently to educate the Indian medial fraternity on the need for compulsory vaccination of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

Currently, there is considerable research on in the area of basic immunology and lesions but substantial assessment and deep understanding of papillomavirus is found lacking. There is also the issue of being able to forward the identified research priorities. The challenge is also to study the patients, assess the reason for infection, understand the chemical driven aspects of the disease, he said.

Research is driven by people. Therefore there is also a serious dearth of scientists who are focusing on the study of HPV which is the major cause of deaths among women globally. If the findings are reasonable then the partnership of research institute, industry supported with government funding are important factors to take the study ahead, professor Stern told Pharmabiz in an interaction.

While it has taken around two decades to come out with a preventive vaccine for cervical cancer, ample funding from both governments and private foundations/agencies should be made available to go for next level of research and address the challenge of a therapy for cervical cancer, said professor Stern.

India needs an aggressive cancer prevention programme funded by its government on similar lines that of the United Kingdom. This is because there is no treatment for cervical cancer and oncologists are finding it difficult to handle the cases. This is where a preventive vaccine helps control increasing cases.

Currently there are two cervical cancer vaccines -- One is the GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK), Cervarix and the other is Merck's Gardisal.

However, GSK's Cervarix known to protect against HPV 16 & 18, which accounts for 70 per cent of the cervical cancers has been the vaccine of choice for the UK Department of Health's under the national HPV immunization programme. The National Health Service (NHS) UK school vaccination programme launched in September 2007 has been made mandatory for girls between 12-18 years. The pilot study in Manchester saw 80 percent response and a similar support in Australia. Such a comprehensive and focused vaccination drive can prevent cancer of the cervix which is also be difficult to diagnose because the virus mimics the immune system before it manifests, stated Prof Stern.

This UK project represents one of the largest HPV national immunization programmes in the world and GSK is in dialogue with more governments to ensure more girls and women benefit from cervical cancer vaccination with Cervarix.

Annually UK reports 800 fatal cases as against India's 74,000 patients who succumb to cervical cancer. This incidence proves the need to introduce a national cervical cancer vaccination drive, stated professor Stern.