• 4/7/2005
  • England
  • Ben Townley
  • uk.gay.com

A new vaccine for the virus that leads to anal cancer in gay men and cervical cancer in women has seen dramatic results in clinical studies.

The vaccine, which targets variants of the human papillomavirus (HPV), recorded a 90% reduction in infection rate, according to results published in the online journal Lancet Oncology. It was also 100% effective against cancerous lesions.

Developed by pharmaceutical giant Merck, the vaccine could be used to protect gay men from anal cancer, although researchers are primarily focussing on cervical cancer in women.

A recent study in the US suggested that as many as a third of gay men could be carrying the virus, which does not always lead to cancer and can be transmitted through sexual contact. The virus can also result in genital and anal warts.

The trial looked at 1,158 women aged between 16-23 from across Europe and the USA. In a statement to Gay.com UK, Cancer Research UK’s Dr Anne Szarewski welcomed the news of the vaccine.

“This is further evidence that work on HPV vaccines is showing great promise,” she said. “With any disease caused by a virus, the best way to stop it is to prevent it with a vaccine.”

Earlier this year Dr Szarewski predicted a vaccine could be on the market in the next five years. GlaxoSmithKline is also working on a product to help protect against the HPV virus although, again, this is thought to be focusing on cervical cancer.

However, an Australian study was launched in January to focus on gay men and to help fight anal cancer, which is still relatively rare amongst the gay community.

The clinical trials will include gay men aged between 18-23, according to the country’s Associated Press, with a view to eventually designing a vaccine that could be available for gay men at risk of the virus.