An AS04-containing human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer is immunogenic and well-tolerated in women 15–55 years old
1008 Background: Genital HPV infections can be acquired shortly after sexual debut, and the risk remains throughout a sexually active woman’s lifetime. In women 15–25 years of age, the AS04-containing HPV vaccine was highly immunogenic and conferred 100% protection against HPV-16/18 persistent infection and associated cervical lesions up to 27 months. In the long-term follow-up of this study, sustained vaccine efficacy has been observed up to 48 months. The present phase III study (580299/014) assessed immune responses to the AS04-containing HPV-16/18 vaccine in women 26–55 years old compared with women 15–25 years old. Methods: Healthy women in Germany and Poland between 15 and 55 years of age received 3 doses of HPV-16/18 AS04-containing vaccine at months 0, 1, and 6. The groups were age stratified: 15–25 (n=229), 26–45 (n=226), and 46–55 (n=211). Anti-HPV-16/18 antibody titers were assessed at months 0, 2, 7, and 12 by ELISA (EU/mL). Seropositivity rates and geometric mean antibody titers (GMTs) were calculated for all groups. Safety was assessed after each dose in all participants. Results: All initially seronegative women became seropositive for both HPV 16 and 18 at Month 2. At Month 7, HPV-16 GMTs (95% CI) were 7908.4 (6874.0–9098.5) in 15–25 year olds, 4029.2 (3402.7–4771.0) in 26–45 year olds, and 2566.8 (2181.2–3020.6) in 46–55 year olds. For HPV-18, GMTs were 3499.3 (3098.7–3951.6) in 15–25 year olds, 1837.3 (1602.1–2107.0) in 26–45 year olds, and 1313.0 (1145.6–1504.9) in 46–55 year olds. Overall the vaccine was well-tolerated, and the incidence of local symptoms (within 30 days) tended to be lower in the 46–55 year-old group (69.2% versus 81.6% [26–45] and 85.7% [15–25]). Conclusions: An AS04-containing HPV-16/18 vaccine was immunogenic and generally safe in 15–55 year-old females. As observed with other vaccines, GMTs decreased with age, however, the Month 7 postvaccination antibody levels in the oldest age group (46–55) were still 3–4 times higher than those observed during a separate long-term follow-up study where sustained efficacy has been observed up to 48 months. [Table: see text]