Serum Institute likely to launch cervical cancer vaccine in India in Nov

Country now depends on foreign companies and Serum's product is likely to bring down prices.

An India-made cervical cancer vaccine would be available by November when Serum Institute of India (SII) launches its Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) inoculation.

According to sources, the company is stocking the vaccine as it awaits a clearance from the country's drug regulator. India now has HPV vaccines made by foreign manufacturers: Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, and Cervarix by Glaxo Smithkline. SII’s entry into this space is expected to bring down the prices. HPV vaccines are now available in the range of Rs 2,000-3,000 per dose.

SII will soon seek a marketing authorisation for the vaccine from the regulator. However, since