LONDON — Experts met Tuesday in London to discuss how to make a cervical cancer vaccine available to women in poor countries.
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The two-day meeting was being attended by about 60 representatives from public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, nongovernmental organizations and philanthropic foundations to try to accelerate the developing world's access to the vaccine.
Merck & Co.'s Gardasil is the first licensed vaccine. It is available in the United .States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. GlaxoSmithKline PLC is expected to file for approval of its vaccine, Cervarix, next year. Both vaccines protect against two types of the human papillomavirus, which cause 70 percent of cervical cancers.
Last year, more than 500,000 women worldwide were diagnosed with cervical cancer.
"With a technology like this vaccine, the world has a moral obligation to make sure it reaches the women who need it,” said Dr. Nothemba Simelela of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Public health officials are working with pharmaceutical companies to see how women in developing countries might get vaccinated soon.
•PREVENTION: A vaccine made by Merck & Co. protects against the human papillomavirus. The disease usually is fatal if untreated and is the second-most common type of cancer in women.
•HIGH PRICE: The vaccine's price — $360 for a three-shot dose — puts it out of reach for women in developing countries, where 90 percent of cervical cancer occurs.
•EXPERT APPROACH: One expert suggests subsidizing the price short-term; others are working on developing a cheaper version of the vaccine.
