On April 19, 2023, Zhang Jiankang, President of Shanghai Zerun Biotech, gave a speech on “Early Vaccination, Early Protection, Early Relief - Corporate Responsibility in the Action Plan for Accelerated Elimination of Cervical Cancer (2023-2030)” at the “21CC Tumor Week: Focusing on the Whole Life Cycle of Cancer Patients” series presented by 21st Century Business Herald, a subsidiary of Southern Finance Omnimedia Corp and 21st Century New Health Research Institute.

The following is from the 21st Century Business Herald:

“With the successive launch of domestic bivalent HPV vaccines and the continuous expansion of free HPV vaccination coverage around the country, the accessibility of bivalent HPV vaccines in China will be further enhanced.”

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April 15-21, 2023 is the 29th National Cancer Awareness Week, and the theme of this year’s week is “Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Comprehensive Action - Whole Population, Whole Cycle, Whole Society”.

As the first national omni media corporation approved by the central government, 21st Century Business Herald and 21st Century New Health Research Institute, a subsidiary of Southern Finance Omnimedia Corp, specially planned and launched “Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Comprehensive Action - 21CC 2023 National Tumor Prevention and Treatment Publicity Week Series Live-streams” during this publicity week.

“Cervical cancer is currently the first and only cancer that can be prevented by vaccination.” Zhang Jiankang, vice president of Walvax and president of its subsidiary Zerun Biotech, said during the 21CC National Tumor Awareness Week Live-streams.

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women aged 15-44 worldwide, second only to breast cancer in terms of incidence and mortality. In 2020, there were about 110,000 new cases of cervical cancer and about 60,000 deaths in China, and HPV vaccination is one of the best means to prevent cervical cancer.

On November 17, 2020, the World Health Organization released the Global Strategy for Accelerating the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, with the goals of 90% of girls aged 9-14 years completing full HPV vaccination by age 15 by 2030; 70% of women receiving high-quality screening once at age 35 and once at age 45; and 90% of women with diagnosed cervical disease receiving treatment.

Zhang Jiankang introduced the study, which showed that the coverage rate of HPV vaccine among female university students in China is about 3.09%; the coverage rate of complete 3-dose HPV vaccine is 0.73%.

With the successive launch of domestic bivalent HPV vaccine and the continuous expansion of free HPV vaccination coverage around the country, the accessibility of domestic bivalent HPV vaccine will be further enhanced.

The disease burden of cervical cancer in China cannot be ignored

It is reported that cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women aged 15-44 worldwide, second only to breast cancer in terms of incidence and mortality. Globally, there are 600,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths from cervical cancer every year.

The Global Cancer Statistics Report released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer shows that in 2020, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are second only to breast cancer and thyroid cancer among women aged 15 to 44 in China. In that year, China will have nearly 110,000 new cases of cervical cancer and about 60,000 deaths, both accounting for nearly 20% of the global rate.

In addition, the incidence of cervical cancer in China is on the rise year by year, and the incidence is trending younger. According to the epidemiological study of cervical cancer in China, there are two peak periods of high-risk HPV infection, the first peak period is 17-24 years old and the second peak period is 40-44 years old, and persistent infection of high-risk HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.

More than 90% of cervical cancers are caused by high-risk HPV infection. HPV infection is a high probability event, but HPV infection leading to cervical cancer is a small probability event. HPV infection does not necessarily mean that cervical cancer will develop, but the focus should be on regular checkups under the guidance of a doctor for timely detection, diagnosis and treatment of precancerous diseases.

There are more than two hundred different subtypes of HPV, and about 70% of cervical cancer and cervical precancerous lesions are caused by two high-risk types, HPV 16 and 18. Research data indicate that sexual behavior is an important risk factor for HPV infection.

In addition, multiple sexual partners, early start of sexual life, early childbirth, multiple pregnancies and multiple births and multiple abortions are also closely associated with the occurrence of cervical cancer.

It is worth emphasizing that cervical cancer is currently the only cancer with a clear etiology and targeted and effective prevention methods, and may be the first malignancy to be eliminated by screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and especially by vaccination.

On November 17, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the Global Strategy for Accelerating the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, a document that proposes to prevent and eliminate cervical cancer through safe and effective vaccines, efficient and sensitive diagnostic screening, and proven clinical treatment options.

The goal of "90-70-90" needs to be achieved by 2030, i.e., 90% of girls aged 9-14 will be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15; 70% of women will be screened once at age 35 and once at age 45; and 90% of women with diagnosed cervical disease will be treated.

Domestic HPV vaccine helps achieve cervical cancer elimination

China's HPV vaccine market size grew from $940 million to $13.56 billion from 2017 to 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of 143.4%. However, limited by factors such as vaccine supply, the HPV vaccination rate for women of the right age in China is still at a low level.

According to Frost & Sullivan data, the number of women of HPV vaccination age (9-45 years old) in China reaches 315 million in 2020; based on the cumulative number of vaccinations, the cumulative HPV vaccination rate for women in China is only 3.61% in 2020.

Zhang Jiankang introduced that the study showed that the coverage rate of HPV vaccine among female college students in China is about 3.09%; the coverage rate of complete 3-dose HPV vaccine is 0.73%.

From the current situation of market competition, the research report of Kaiyuan Securities shows that five HPV vaccines have been marketed, with high and low price HPV vaccines competing side by side, specifically the bivalent HPV vaccine (Cecoline^®) of Wantai Biopharm, the bivalent HPV vaccine (CERVARIX^®) of GSK, the bivalent HPV vaccine (Walrivax^®) of Walvax Biotech, the quadrivalent HPV vaccine of Merck Sharp & Dohme ( GARDASIL^®) and nine-valent HPV vaccine (GARDASIL^®9), with Merck Sharp & Dohme accounting for the largest market share.

On January 5, 2023, National Health Commission of the PRC issued the Action Plan to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer (2023-2030), which specifies that by 2025, HPV vaccination services for girls of the appropriate age will be promoted on a pilot basis, the cervical cancer screening rate for women of the appropriate age will reach 50%, and the treatment rate for patients with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions will reach 90%; by 2030, HPV vaccination for girls of the appropriate age will continue to be promoted By 2030, we will continue to promote HPV vaccination for girls of appropriate age, with a cervical cancer screening rate of 70% for women of appropriate age and a treatment rate of 90% for patients with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

With the successive marketing of domestic bivalent HPV vaccine, and the continuous expansion of free HPV vaccination around the country, the accessibility of domestic bivalent HPV vaccine will be further enhanced.

Zhang Jiankang introduced that Walvax Biotech, for example, has a bivalent HPV vaccine production base located in Yuxi, Yunnan Province, with an annual capacity of 15-30 million doses. Since it was approved for marketing on March 22, 2022, 48 batches of the vaccine have been approved and issued.

In addition, "vaccine marketing" is not the same as "vaccination". Qiao Youlin of the School of Population Medicine and Public Health at Peking Union Medical College previously said that it might be difficult to fully implement the HPV vaccine as a basic public health service in the country in the short term, but it can be done in steps, with national financial help for some less developed areas.

Walvax Biotech Chairman Li Yunchun had said at the 2020 Global Vaccine Summit that Walvax Biotech pledged to provide affordable bivalent HPV vaccine for the Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) market after obtaining the WHO pre-certification, contributing to the prevention of cervical cancer for 84 million girls in developing countries.


News Source: 21st Century Business Herald
Reporter: Wei Xiao (Shenzhen Report)
Editor： Xu Xu