HPV research has led to many advances in our understanding and treatment of HPV infection. One vaccine has been developed to help protect against two types of high-risk HPV, and another one is expected to become available in the near future. HPV research is also examining how the virus causes precancerous changes in normal cells and how these changes can be avoided.
HPV Research: An Overview
Doctors and scientists all over are hard at work conducting research on
HPV. These research studies are designed to answer important questions and to find out whether new approaches to HPV are safe and effective. Such research has already led to many advances, and researchers continue to search for more effective methods of dealing with HPV.
Recent HPV Research Findings
After many years of testing, an HPV vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This vaccine, sold under the brand name
Gardasil®, is highly effective in preventing infection with HPV types 16 and 18, two "high-risk" HPVs. These
types of HPV cause up to 70 percent of
cervical cancer cases. This vaccine also protects against types 6 and 11, which cause up to 90 percent of
genital warts cases.
It is expected that another HPV vaccine will become available within the next year. Cervarix™ is currently being tested and produced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), but is not yet approved by the FDA. This vaccine is called a bivalent vaccine because it targets two HPV types: 16 and 18. Early findings have shown that this vaccine also protects against persistent infection with these two HPV types.
Neither of these HPV vaccines has been proven to provide complete protection against persistent infection with other HPV types, some of which cause cervical cancer. Therefore, about 30 percent of cervical cancer cases and 10 percent of genital warts cases will not be prevented by these vaccines. In addition, the vaccines do not prevent other sexually transmitted diseases, nor do they treat HPV infection or cervical cancer.
Because the vaccines will not protect against all infections that cause cervical cancer, it is important for vaccinated women to continue to undergo
cervical cancer screening, as is recommended for women who have not been vaccinated.
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