Cervical cancer

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India will launch HPV vaccine CERVAVAC   for preventing cervical cancer in 2023,

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• Cervical cancer: It is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. 
• It is the second most common cancer in females after breast cancer, is a major threat faced by women in India. 
  • Over 15 percent of the total cervical cancer deaths in the world occur in India1 with one woman succumbing to cervical cancer every eight minutes.
    • These numbers reflect the grim reality, but a silver lining is that this statistic can be changed, as cervical cancer is a preventable and treatable disease.
• Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for, and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases.
• CERVAVAC: Developed by SII, was approved by the Drug Controller General of India in July 2022. 
  • CERVAVAC is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it is effective against at least four variants of cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and resulted from a partnership of DBT’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that supported Serum’s development efforts.

Source: IE