Estimates indicate that approximately 1.25 lakh women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year.

Serum Institute of India (SII) will launch later this year the country’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that prevents cervical cancer.

The successful development of the vaccine and approval for commercial production from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was announced by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Science and Technology minister, at a function in Delhi on September 1.

In his brief address, chief executive officer, SII, Adar C. Poonawalla, said that the well-being and protection of mother and child is the core philosophy of Serum Institute as only a healthy India can be a productive India. He also supported the Department of Biotechnology (DBT’s vision for more collaboration between the private and government sectors for the manufacturing of vaccines and drugs in India.

Poonawalla said that the initial rollout will be for supplies to the government vaccination programme. The commercial open sales may begin early 2023. The vaccine is the result of a decade-long public-private partnership between SII and the (DBT).

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer mortality worldwide. Majority of the cervical cancer-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries where routine gynecological screening is minimal or absent.

Announcing the completion of the quadrivalent Human Papilloma Virus vaccine in the presence of Adar C. Poonawalla, and other prominent scientists and dignitaries, Dr Singh said, this affordable and cost- effective vaccine marks an important day for DBT and BIRAC as it takes India a step closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most prevalent cancer in India and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer deaths despite being largely preventable. Current estimates indicate that every year approximately 1.25 lakhs women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75 thousand die from the disease in India, and 83 percent of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18 in India, and 70 percent of cases worldwide.

Dr Singh said the most promising intervention to prevent cervical cancer is vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV-18) together contribute to approximately 70 percent of all invasive cervical cancer cases worldwide. The minister further said that the (DBT) has made strenuous efforts to strengthen the Indian vaccine research and development over the past three decades.

“This is a celebration of the collective efforts of all stakeholders and the partnerships with industries are becoming incredibly important for doing R&D, which requires huge funding,” Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, DBT said. “India will take a lead in vaccine development and medicine by breaking all barriers for betterment of mankind.”

Dr N. Kalaiselvi, DG, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in her address said that the cancer vaccine will help Indian women and women across the globe in a major way and we may see in the near future the version 1, 2 and 3 of “CERVAVAC”, as technologies are short lived.

Film actor Manisha Koirala, who bravely fought and won the battle against ovarian cancer joined virtually to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology and particularly DBT for reaching this milestone. She said this a great day for women in India and the world over, as there is life beyond cancer.

Almost 150 countries have already included the HPV vaccine in their national routine vaccination schedule. Also, 29 countries are projected to have HPV vaccine included in their national vaccination programmes by the end of 2023, BIRAC says.