Innovative vaccine against HPV: Thailand relies on local production!

Innovative vaccine against HPV: Thailand relies on local production!

The 37th International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) Conference, which opened on October 23, 2025, is currently taking place in Bangkok, Thailand. A central theme of this event is the groundbreaking presentation of developing world manufacturers committed to the global elimination of cervical cancer. In particular Macau business reports the initiatives of Innovax and Xiamen University presenting a novel E. coli-expressed 9-valent vaccine called Cecolin 9. This vaccine is intended to promote global equity in HPV prevention and could be instrumental in combating cervical cancer in Thailand.

The symposium was chaired by Dr. Wichai Termrungruanglert, Vice President of the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians, while Dr. Zhiming (Tiffany) Jiang from Wantai Group and Dr. Huirong (Harry) Pan from Xiamen Innovax Biotech Co., Ltd. presented their findings. Particularly noteworthy was Professor Ting Wu's presentation, which showed the results of a three-year follow-up study of Cecolin 9 with an already marketed HPV 9-valent vaccine. The results demonstrate that Cecolin 9 has comparable immunogenicity and safety profiles to its competitors.

Advances in HPV vaccine development

The importance of prophylactic vaccines against HPV is becoming increasingly clear in the medical community. These vaccines, which target the L1 and L2 proteins, promote the production of antibodies that neutralize the virus. While several L1-based vaccines such as Cervarix® and Gardasil® have already been approved by the US FDA, L2-based vaccines are still being tested. Infection agent scanner highlights that the newly approved vaccines Cecolin®, Walrinvax® and Cervavac® are significantly cheaper than the established products in countries such as China and India, which plays an important role in the Gavi program.

Additionally, it is reported that Cecolin® and Walrinvax® have already been prequalified by the WHO, underlining their suitability for wider use in low-income countries. These developments could be crucial in the fight against cervical cancer, especially in regions affected by high incidence rates.

Local production strategies and partnerships

Together with experts from the Gates Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, we are discussing how to advance its implementation in Thailand. Dr. Nakorn Premsri from the National Vaccine Institute of Thailand and Dr. Boonrak Thawornrungroaj from Global Biotech Products Co., Ltd. discuss the strategies for local production of Cecolin 9 to ensure more equitable access to vaccination in Thailand. These partnerships could help significantly improve the availability of the vaccine, as Cecolin 9 is currently approved by China's NMPA but is not yet available in Thailand.

Experts agree that a compelling localization strategy is necessary to significantly improve HPV prevention numbers and increase the chances of a population that would otherwise be excluded from these life-saving vaccines. Innovax's commitment is recognized for its contributions to the global elimination of cervical cancer and a commitment to further collaboration is offered.

The conference in Bangkok highlights the synergies between different organizations and companies working together for a healthy future. With innovative approaches and strong partnerships, it could be possible to push back cervical cancer more and more worldwide and to offer the women affected a real perspective.