Eliminating cervical cancer as a global health problem is within reach - and EU support can make a difference!

The term ‘life saving’ gets thrown around sometimes, but the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is undoubtedly a health innovation that has saved countless lives. First approved in 2006, there are now numerous HPV vaccines on the market, including the recent WHO approved Cecolin? (approved October 2024) and Walrinvax? (approved August 2024).

Since its introduction, the vaccine has demonstrated over 90% efficacy in preventing several HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, and oral cancers. Eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem is within reach, if 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, as endorsed by the WHO.

One dose is enough, but do we have enough for everyone?

Almost all the clinical trials that provided the data that backed the one-dose regimen recommended by WHO, took place in Costa Rica, India, Kenya and Tanzania – in so-called low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, Australia, and the United Kingdom (high income countries) were some of the first to implement the one dose strategy, benefitting from the efficiencies of the new regimen. In Australia and Tanzania, successful vaccination campaigns resulted in remarkable coverage rates, with around 97% of the targeted population vaccinated in the latter.

This is just one of many examples of why science - by its nature a collaborative endeavour – is much stronger when it’s undertaken through a global approach. Research and access to its benefits should also be globally considerate. While oftentimes breakthrough in medicines is thanks to the hard work, data sharing, sacrifice and expertise of individuals and teams scattered across the globe, still too often the benefits are largely reaped in high-income countries. To maximise the public health impact of such innovations, it is crucial that all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location, have access to these life-saving technologies.

What the European Union (EU) can do

With sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) under threat globally, we must ensure that this key pillar of an individual’s health is not co-opted by political agendas that disregard scientific evidence but rather continues to be understood and approached as a health issue. The EU stands at a critical juncture in advancing sexual and reproductive health technologies; both in its mandate to build a European Health Union and under its global commitments to upholding and advancing equality, and improving health, including those outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This means, there is an important role to play for both the future Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and for the future International Partnerships Commissioner Jozef Sikela . Várhelyi has the historic opportunity to contribute to eradicating this preventable cancer in the EU, delivering on the objectives of the European Beating Cancer Plan and his mission letter. Equally, Commissioner-designate Síkela should work closely with his health counterpart to drive international efforts to eradicate cervical cancer and advance women’s health globally.

The reality is that while the HPV vaccine has transformed the landscape of cervical cancer prevention, still over 300,000 women die from cervical cancer each year, the majority in LMICs, due to limited access to early screening and vaccines. Continuous innovation will be critical to reach the target of eradicating cervical cancer – including new approaches to funding the development and accessibility of technologies in LMICs, as public good.

The Team Europe Initiatives on manufacturing and access to health technologies in Africa (MAV+) and on SRHR were innovative responses to address key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. But a collaborative approach should not just be the norm in crises. The continued success of these initiatives relies not only on stronger global collaboration but also on a substantial boost in EU global health investments in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The world is woefully off track in achieving the targets set out in the SDGs, but through greater coordination between actors and their respective efforts and greater efficiency, impact is possible. With the clock ticking toward the 2030 deadline, the EU’s financial commitments in the upcoming MFF will be a decisive factor in driving meaningful progress.