India Pharma Outlook Team | Wednesday, 25 June 2025
The Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's leading vaccine manufacturer by volume, launched Cervavac, India’s first indigenously manufactured gender-neutral quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
The launch of Cervavac was a significant milestone event and took place at the 'Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025', in order to address the burden of HPV associated cancers. In the Indian context, HPV disease has high incidence rates and when it comes to cervical cancer (the second most common cancer for women) is particularly disconcerting.
The ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023) reports that India records an estimated >1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases (and approximately 77,000 cervical cancer deaths) each year, with HPV implicated in between 10-90% of anal cancers and 63% of penile cancers. The conclave itself included a panel of experts which included: Dr. Chidananda NK; Dr. Prashanth MV; Dr. Shobha K; and Dr. Rajini Uday, who all spoke about the many different public health implications of HPV.
The panel was moderated by Dr. Bhaskar Shenoy, who is a leader in the field of paediatric infectious disease. The panel emphasized the importance of vaccinating both males and females, particularly adolescents, to account for HPV also being implicated in vulvar, vaginal, anogenital, penile and oropharyngeal cancers.
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“Through these conclaves held across the country, we aim to increase understanding of HPV and its link to cervical and other cancers. By bringing together medical experts, healthcare workers, and community members, the forum encourages open dialogue and practical steps toward early detection and prevention,” said Parag Deshmukh, executive director, Serum Institute of India.
The Bengaluru conclave concluded with an open forum, and the campaign will now extend to multiple cities, promoting informed decision-making to curb HPV-related cancers across India.
