Latest results from a clinical trial of Gardisal™, the Australian developed vaccine for human papilloma virus, add to the growing weight of opinion that the Government should extend its funding of the vaccine to boys. The research was presented today (18/11) to the Clinical Oncolgoical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney.

The vaccine's inventor, Professor Ian Frazer, said the trial had shown (at 29 months) 90 per cent efficacy in boys treated for HPV 6/11/16/18 related external genital lesions and over 85 per cent for all HPV infections.

While the vaccine is approved for boys aged 9-15, it is not part of the national HPV vaccination program, the Federal Government program which pays for girls to be vaccinated.

"While the largest benefit for this vaccine will be the reduction in cervical cancer incidence in women, growing evidence of its effectiveness in boys is welcome news," Professor Frazer said.

Presentation: 11am, Room 105
Australia's leading meeting of cancer experts
Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
Sydney Convention Centre - November 18-20, 2008

Source
Cancer Council, Australia
cancer.au