Gardasil Helps Younger Males

ATLANTA — The human papillomavirus vaccine was efficacious in preventing persistent infections and genital warts caused by HPV strains 6, 11, 16, and 18 in a Merck-sponsored study of 4,065 males aged 16-26 years.

The findings were presented by Dr. Richard M. Haupt at a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Merck had previously reported immunogenicity and safety data for its HPV vaccine (Gardasil) in younger males aged 9-15 years, but these are the first data on efficacy in males and the first findings in older adolescent and adult males.

The rationale for use of Gardasil in males is twofold. There is intrinsic benefit to males themselves since HPV strain 18 causes penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer and HPV 6 and 11 are associated with genital warts. There is also a public health benefit to vaccinating males against HPV since coverage among girls is likely to be incomplete, transition of HPV occurs efficiently between sexual partners, and “gender-neutral” vaccination would be expected to reduce overall viral transmission in the entire population, noted Dr. Haupt of Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station, N.J.

ACIP is expected to recommend the vaccine for use in males aged 11-12 at the adolescent visit, just as it is now given to girls. This should simplify implementation, Dr. Doug Campos-Outcalt of the University of Arizona, Phoenix, said in an interview.

“There are now four vaccines recommended for adolescents. I think there will be a period of time before we get high acceptance rates, but it will help to have other vaccines being offered at the same time,” said Dr. Campos-Outcalt, who serves as the liaison to ACIP from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, three doses of Gardasil or placebo were given at 0, 2, and 6 months. Mean follow-up for this analysis was 30 months of a planned total of 36. The study population, which came from 18 different countries, included 3,463 heterosexual males aged 16-23 years and 602 males aged 16-26 who have sex with men, Dr. Haupt noted.

At baseline, 12% of the entire group was polymerase chain reaction-positive to at least one of the four vaccine virus types. By serology, 8% were seropositive to at least one type. With PCR and serology combined, 83% of the group was naive to all four types. Moreover, most who were infected had just one type, suggesting “the vast majority would benefit from the vaccine,” Dr. Haupt said.

Per protocol, efficacy of the vaccine was 90.4% against external genital lesions, 85.6% in preventing persistent infection (from two or more consecutive visits), and 44.7% against DNA detection of a vaccine virus strain in anogenital specimen from one or more visits. All three of those results were statistically significant, he said.

Safety analysis showed similar findings to those seen in females. Local site reactions were the most common adverse event, occurring in 60% of the 2,020 Gardasil recipients and 54% of the 2,029 placebo recipients, Dr. Haupt reported.

Merck has filed an application with the Food and Drug Administration for licensure of Gardasil in males 9-26 years of age.

Source: Family Practice News