Cervarix approved to prevent anal cancer

The bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Cervarix is now licensed for the prevention of premalignant anal lesions and anal cancers causally related to certain oncogenic types of HPV.

Further information
View Cervarix drug record
Summary of Product Characteristics
MIMS Cancer Clinic

The change brings Cervarix in line with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine Gardasil in terms of cervical and anal cancer prevention, although Cervarix is not licensed for the prevention of genital warts. 

Both vaccines provide protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are believed to be responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of anal cancers. Gardasil, which is given to girls aged 12–13 years as part of the routine immunisation programme, also provides protection against additional HPV types that cause genital warts (types 6 and 11).