New HPV Vaccine to Treat Infection

Professor Ian Frazer did not rest on his laurels after developing the vaccine used around the world to prevent cervical cancer. Now he is working on another vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), which could reduce rates of the aggressive cancer even further.

Frazer is collaborating with Brisbane-based biotechnology firm Coridon on the new vaccine, which is intended for those already infected.

“There are a lot of women out there who are already infected with the virus,” Frazer continued. And for them, current HPV vaccines are of “no effect at all. They are not able to cure existing infections.”

Australia provides the Gardasil and Cervarix HPV vaccines free to girls ages 12-13. Gardasil inhibits transmission of four strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

According to Frazer, the new vaccine will be engineered to cause a certain immune response within the body that will eliminate the infection. Pre-clinical trials have proven the efficacy of the technology behind the vaccine, Frazer maintains. Though it will next advance to clinical trials, it is years away from coming to market. Frazer also hopes the technology will lead to a treatment for herpes.

“We have proof of concept from animal studies that this technology that’s behind the proposed HPV vaccines is an effective one, and it’s lived up to our expectations,” said Frazer.

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