nmpa_logo

China approves first homegrown HPV vaccine

pharmafile | January 8, 2020 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing China, HPV, NMPA, pharma, vaccines 

Female patients in China between the ages of nine and 45 will have access to the country’s first domestically-produced vaccine for the prevention of cancerogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) after the approval of Innovax’s Cecolin therapy by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Cecolin protects against Type 16 and 18 HPV, the two most common strains of the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The approval presents an alternative therapy in a space occupied by only two other countries worldwide: GlaxoSmithKline, headquartered in the UK which produces a two-valent vaccine, and MSD in the US, which produces a four- and nine-valent vaccine.

According to the NMPA, the move was made in response to rising public demand for a HPV vaccine in order to generate greater access. The country said it would aim to accelerate the review and approval of domestically produced HPV vaccines.

The development is emblematic of a concerted effort from China to reduce its reliance on importing medicine from outside its borders and follows within a week the news that the NMPA had approved its first homegrown 13-valent pneumonia vaccine.

Matt Fellows

Related Content

GSK and Save the Children extend partnership for unvaccinated children

GSK and Save the Children have announced that they will be renewing their partnership for …

AstraZeneca’s Calquence approved in China for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment

AstraZeneca has announced that Calquence (acalabrutinib) has been approved in China for the treatment of …

FDA approves IMIDEX’s AI-powered device VisiRad XR

The technological pharmaceutical company IMIDEX has been granted clearance from the US Food and Drug …

Latest content