Pharmaceutical Business review

Australia to subsidize cervical cancer immunization program

As part of the scheme, a free vaccine program for women aged 19-26 will also be delivered by doctors.

CSL said that the immunization program will commence in 2007. The Australian government expects to spend a total of $436 million on the purchase of the vaccine over a four year period.

Originally a government advisory committee rejected a request by CSL to subsidize Gardasil, claiming that the three-shot course was too expensive.

Cervical cancer kills about 250,000 women annually, making it the second-biggest cause of death among female cancer patients globally, according to the World Health Organization.

“The combination of a national immunization program with Gardasil, and regular two yearly pap semars means that we could substantially reduce the burden of cervical cancer and pre-cancers,” said Dr Brian McNamee CEO of CSL.