MSD India launches countrys 1st HPV vaccine to prevent Cancer

Kolkata, Oct 20 (UNI) MSD Pharmaceuticals private limited, an affiliate of Merck and Company, US today announced the launch of Gardasil, countrys first vaccine to help prevent Cervical Cancer among women.

Announcing the launch of the vaccine here, Anjana Narain, Executive Director, MSD India said, ''We are committed to addressing diseases of high burden in the country.

''With the launch of Gardasil we have given the call for war against Cervical Cancer, a silent killer in our country as it is the number one cause of mortality amongst Indian women due to cancer,'' she added.

She maintained that the vaccine will help prevent diseases such as Cervical Cancer, abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions, vaginal lesions, vulvar lesions and genital warts.

The vaccine is recommended to be given to females aged between nine to twenty six years, she informed, adding it is the only USFDA approved vaccine to help in preventing cervical cancer and other diseases caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Speaking on the occasion Dr Partha Basu, Oncologist, Chitranjan National Cancer Institute here said Cervical Cancer is a life threatening disease of the uterine cervix, the lower part of the uterus which is caused by a commonly found high-risk virus, HPV.

He further informed that this type of cancer develops when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix begin to multiply out of control in response to persistent infection with high risk HPV types.

Cervical Cancer is the commonest cause of cancer deaths among Indian women as it takes the lives of eight women every hour. It is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, he added.

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