GlaxoSmithKline amends EU licence for cervical cancer drug

GlaxoSmithKline has been granted permission to amend the European licence of Cervarix, its vaccine treatment for cervical cancer patients.

The European Commission has given the company a marketing authorisation to broaden the drug's specification to include a wider range of conditions, including preventing precancerous lesions and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer.

This ruling was made on the back of recent data from the Patricia clinical trial, which demonstrated Cervarix's efficacy beyond HPV 16 and 18, the two types of virus contained in the product.

As a result, the treatment is now indicated as effective against HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45, meaning it can account for 80 per cent of all cervical cancers.

Earlier this month, GlaxoSmithKline agreed a new collaboration with immune system specialist Amplimmune to develop PD-1-targeting therapies for cancer and other conditions.

It is hoped that clinical trials of these potentially innovative new therapies can commence next year.