New Delhi, October 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s first indigenously developed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Cervavac, has received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO), making it eligible for procurement by UN agencies and potentially expanding access to the vaccine globally.
Developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Cervavac had earlier received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for use in the country.
Cervavac is a quadrivalent, gender-neutral vaccine that can be administered to girls and boys aged between nine and 26 years. It targets four HPV strains — types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
HPV types 6 and 11 are commonly associated with genital warts, while types 16 and 18 are high-risk strains linked to several cancers.
In women, the vaccine helps protect against HPV-associated cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers. In men, it provides protection against HPV-related anal cancer.
According to the Serum Institute, children aged 9-14 years should receive two doses six months apart, while those aged 15-26 years require three doses over a period of one year.
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla said the WHO prequalification marked an important step in strengthening the global fight against HPV-related diseases and expanding access to preventive vaccination.
The vaccine contains proteins designed to trigger an immune response against the four targeted HPV strains and is manufactured using the Hansenula polymorpha expression system.
WHO prequalification is an important benchmark for vaccine quality, safety and efficacy. It enables international agencies and global immunisation programmes to procure vaccines that meet the organisation’s standards.
Cervavac was developed by the Serum Institute in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Gates Foundation.
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