HPV9: Combating HPV-associated cancers by strengthening serotype

The majority of HPV infections are asymptomatic and self-limiting, but low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts in some cases. Some HPV infections can lead to cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancer in women, penile cancer in men, and anogenital cancer or oropharyngeal cancer in both men and women. With the development of vaccines against the high-risk oncogenic types of HPV, many of these cancers and cases of genital warts are preventable. Currently, three vaccines are licensed for primary prevention of HPV in the United States: the 9-valent HPV vaccine (HPV9; Gardasil 9—Merck), the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV4; Gardasil—Merck), and the bivalent HPV vaccine (HPV2; Cervarix—GlaxoSmithKline). Females may be vaccinated with any of the three HPV vaccines, but males should only receive HPV4 or HPV9. All three vaccines offer protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for approximately 70% of HPV-associated cancers. 1,2