China's first domestically developed 9-valent HPV vaccine has been priced at 499 yuan ($70) per dose, offering people a new choice for HPV vaccination, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Following 18 years of effort, the domestically developed 9-valent HPV vaccine has demonstrated trial data comparable to that of imported ones. A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases in July 2023 indicates that the domestic and imported 9-valent HPV vaccines exhibit similar immune responses and safety profiles.

Preventing persistent HPV infection is the first line of defense against cervical cancer. Results from the Phase III clinical trial show that vaccination with the domestic 9-valent HPV vaccine effectively established a defense against cervical cancer caused by high-risk HPV types covered by the vaccine.

In 2020, the World Health Organization launched a global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. China subsequently issued its own plan for the years 2023-2030, listing HPV vaccination promotion as a primary objective.

To date, 70 to 80 percent of China's 300 million females aged 9 to 45 remain unvaccinated against HPV, according to Xinhua.

As the only HPV vaccine approved for a two-dose regimen in youths aged 9 to 17, it may improve vaccination compliance, increase coverage rates, and facilitate the timely establishment of immune protection.