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HPV vaccine
HPV vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and cellular immunity against human papillomavirus types that cause cervical and other cancers.
HPV vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and cellular immunity against human papillomavirus types that cause cervical and other cancers. Used for Prevention of cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18, Prevention of other HPV-related cancers (anal, oropharyngeal, vulvar, vaginal), Prevention of genital warts.
At a glance
| Generic name | HPV vaccine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | cerverix, Gardasil, Ceravix |
| Sponsor | Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia |
| Drug class | Prophylactic vaccine |
| Target | Human papillomavirus (HPV) capsid proteins / L1 antigen |
| Modality | Biologic |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology / Immunology / Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
The vaccine contains viral-like particles (VLPs) derived from HPV capsid proteins or recombinant antigens that trigger both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. This prevents infection by high-risk HPV strains (primarily types 16 and 18, with some vaccines covering additional types) before they can establish persistent infection and progress to malignant transformation. The vaccine is most effective when administered before exposure to the virus.
Approved indications
- Prevention of cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18
- Prevention of other HPV-related cancers (anal, oropharyngeal, vulvar, vaginal)
- Prevention of genital warts
Common side effects
- Injection site pain, redness, or swelling
- Headache
- Myalgia
- Fever
- Nausea
- Syncope (fainting)
Key clinical trials
- Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) Alone or in Combination With Immunotherapy Vaccine PRGN-2009 in Subjects With Newly Diagnosed HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal (Head and Neck) Cancer (PHASE2)
- Developing a First-void Urine-based Infection Model to Study HPV-specific Antibody-virion Interaction Before and After HPV Vaccination (PHASE2)
- A Randomized Trial of Digital Interventions to Increase HPV Vaccination Intentions Among Nigerian Caregivers (NA)
- Recombinant Human Papillomavirus Nonavalent Vaccine in Preventing Human Papilloma Virus in Younger Healthy Participants (PHASE2)
- Testing RG1-VLP Vaccine to Prevent HPV-related Cancers (PHASE1)
- Single-Dose HPV Vaccination for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer in Young Adult Women in Costa Rica, The PRISMA ESCUDDO Trial (PHASE4)
- Longitudinal Tracking of Bone Marrow Plasma Cell Responses to Licensed Human Vaccines (PHASE4)
- TheraT® Vectors (Vaccines) Combined With Chemotherapy to Treat HPV16 Head and Neck Cancers (PHASE1, PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- HPV vaccine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- HPV vaccine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia portfolio CI