China approves first domestically produced nine-valent HPV vaccine

China has approved its first domestically developed nine-valent HPV vaccine, Cecolin 9, marking a major milestone in public health. Developed by Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, and Wantai BioPharm, it makes China the second country—after the U.S.—capable of independently producing high-valency HPV vaccines.

The vaccine offers strong protection against seven HPV types, including 16 and 18 (linked to most cervical cancers), with over 98% effectiveness against persistent infections and 100% against cervical infections. It is the only two-dose HPV vaccine available in China for girls aged 15 to 17.

Tested in five clinical trials involving over 11,000 participants, the vaccine showed comparable long-term immune responses to global products and was featured in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. It builds on the team’s earlier success with China’s first two-valent HPV vaccine, which was WHO pre-qualified in 2021 and is now used in 21 countries.

This advancement supports China’s efforts to combat cervical cancer, which remains the fourth most common cancer among women globally. In 2024, around 40% of Chinese girls aged 13 to 14 received free HPV vaccinations.

Credit : CGTN