Gardasil and Cervarix share innovation prize
pharmafile | September 25, 2008 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Cancer, Gardasil, prix galien, vaccines
Rival vaccine products that will prevent thousands of women developing cervical cancer have been declared joint winners of the prestigious UK Prix Galien award.
The prize is awarded biannually, and rewards innovative new drugs which represent the greatest advances in patient care.
Sanofi-Pasteur MSD's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix are vaccines for girls and young women and can prevent around 70% of cervical cancers by blocking the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes the majority of cases.
The timing of the award coincides with the launch of the UK's national HPV immunisation programme, which will see all 12-13 year old girls vaccinated with GSK's Cervarix.
Chairman of the Prix Galien judges was Prof Sir Michael Rawlins, also the chairman of cost effectiveness body NICE.
Commenting on the winners, he said: "Both products are vaccines against human papillomavirus and their widespread use will prevent – in the fullness of time – over 2,000 deaths per year in the UK from cervical cancer. It represents a huge achievement by both companies."
Dr Nicholas Kitchin, medical director at Sanofi-Pasteur MSD, commented: "As a company we are absolutely delighted at the recognition that has been given to Gardasil. It reflects the work of many people, not just in the UK but around the world.
"Gardasil makes the dream of a cancer vaccine become a reality for the first time."
The Prix Galien awards are held in countries around the world, and Gardasil has already won the same award in the US and in France.
Dr Kitchin pointed out that four out of the last five UK Prix Galien winners have been vaccines, underlining their contribution to public health.
A spokesman for GSK expressed the company's delight at having won the jointly-awarded prize, and pledged that the company would continue to support to the UK's immunisation programme using Cervarix.
Prof Rawlins said the companies deserved extra praise for persisting despite criticism from the media.
"They have both been very courageous," he said. "Not merely for investing their skills and resources in these development programmes, but also for deciding to put up with the adverse media coverage that they have already experienced and – I'm afraid – they will continue to attract in the years ahead.
"Ten years ago – when many companies were pulling out of vaccine development altogether – many of us despaired for the future. We thought that the interminable media pressures would deter companies from continuing the development of vaccines. Thank God we've been proved wrong!"
Controversy has indeed surrounded the drugs, with stakeholders criticising the government's decision to choose Cervarix over Gardasil. Some parents and religious groups have also expressed concerns about the vaccines. One Roman Catholic school in Greater Manchester has decided to ban its girls from receiving the vaccine, citing concerns about side effects. Such moves are, however, rare in the UK and Dr Peter Elton, the director of public health for Greater Manchester said the school's concerns were not justified.
Orphan drug category
For the first time, a special Orphan Drug category was created to recognise innovation in drugs for rare diseases. The winner of this award was Novartis' Exjade, for chronic iron overload. The drug is a very significant advance over the existing treatment for the condition, a drug infusion lasting 8-12 hours that is also extremely painful for patients. Exjade by contrast is a simple pill, making treatment much easier.
Prof Sir Michael Rawlins commented: "It might seem – to some – to be a small advance; but for those with chronic iron overload it really is a wonder drug."
The full list – The UK Prix Galien Awards
Innovative Product Finalists
Joint winners
Cervarix – GlaxoSmithKline
Gardasil – Sanofi-Pasteur MSD
Highly Commended
Champix – Pfizer
Januvia – Merck Sharp & Dohme
Commended
MabThera – Roche
Tygacil – Wyeth
Orphan Drug Finalists
Winner
Exjade – Novartis
Commended
Atriance – GlaxoSmithKline
Sprycel – Bristol-Myers Squibb
Sutent – Pfizer
Tasigna – Novartis
Thelin – Encysive
Torisel – Wyeth
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