Cervarix Vaccines

CERVARIX [Human Papillomavirus Bivalent (Types 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] is a non-infectious recombinant, AS04-adjuvanted vaccine that contains recombinant L1 protein, the major antigenic protein of the capsid, of oncogenic HPV types 16 and 18. The L1 proteins are produced in separate bioreactors using the recombinant Baculovirus expression vector system in a serum-free culture media composed of chemically-defined lipids, vitamins, amino acids, and mineral salts. Following replication of the L1 encoding recombinant Baculovirus in Trichoplusia ni insect cells, the L1 protein accumulates in the cytoplasm of the cells. The L1 proteins are released by cell disruption and purified by a series of chromatographic and filtration methods. Assembly of the L1 proteins into virus-like particles (VLPs) occurs at the end of the purification process. The purified, non-infectious VLPs are then adsorbed on to aluminum (as hydroxide salt). The adjuvant system, AS04, is composed of 3-0-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) adsorbed on to aluminum (as hydroxide salt).
CERVARIX is prepared by combining the adsorbed VLPs of each HPV type together with the AS04 adjuvant system in sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, and Water for Injection.
CERVARIX is a sterile suspension for intramuscular injection. Each 0.5-mL dose is formulated to contain 20 mcg of HPV type 16 L1 protein, 20 mcg of HPV type 18 L1 protein, 50 mcg of the 3-0-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and 0.5 mg of aluminum hydroxide. Each dose also contains 4.4 mg of sodium chloride and 0.624 mg of sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate. Each dose may also contain residual amounts of insect cell and viral protein ( < 40 ng) and bacterial cell protein ( < 150 ng) from the manufacturing process. CERVARIX does not contain a preservative.
The tip caps may contain natural rubber latex; the plungers are not made with natural rubber latex.