human papillomavirus vaccine

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a prophylactic, non-infectious recombinant vaccine designed to prevent infection and disease caused by specific types of the human papillomavirus. There are several formulations: - Bivalent (Cervarix): protects against HPV types 16 and 18. - Quadrivalent (Gardasil, Cervavac): protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. - Nonavalent/9-valent (Gardasil 9): protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. The vaccines contain purified virus-like particles (VLPs) made from the major capsid protein L1 of each targeted HPV type. These VLPs are produced using recombinant DNA technology in yeast (*Saccharomyces cerevisiae*) or other expression systems. The VLPs elicit a strong humoral immune response that produces neutralizing antibodies to prevent initial infection with the included HPV types[5][6][10]. The primary indications for these vaccines are prevention of cervical cancer and its precursors; they also protect against other anogenital cancers (vulvar/vaginal/anal), oropharyngeal cancers in some cases[3], as well as genital warts caused by certain low-risk HPVs[2][4]. The vaccines do not treat existing infections or disease.

Brand names

Gardasil 9Gardasil9Gardasil-9GardasilCervarixCervavac

Other names

human papillomavirus vaccine, nonavalent9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV)