In November 2006, Australia's Prime Minister and the Minister for Health announced that the Commonwealth Government would fund a national immunisation program against cervical cancer.

A school-based vaccination program commenced in April this year for girls aged 12 to 18, and a program delivered by General Practitioners began in July for women aged 19 to 26. GARDASIL*, the world's first vaccine against cervical cancer, is being used in these programs. Approximately 1.7 million Australian women and girls will be eligible for free vaccination during the first two years of the program.

CSL Biotherapies has launched a campaign aimed at women aged 18 to 26 to raise their awareness of the availability of GARDASIL*. This campaign features ten Australian women including Giaan Rooney (Olympic gold medallist swimmer and TV presenter), Tania Major (Young Australian of the Year 2007) and young women from all walks of life who have been vaccinated against cervical cancer.

GARDASIL* vaccine is indicated for high-grade cervical pre-cancers, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers, genital warts and infection caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 account for close to 70% of cervical cancer cases and are linked to most deaths from this disease. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts infections.

In May 2007, further clinical data was submitted to the Therapeutic Goods Administration indicating some cross protection against HPV types responsible for an additional 10% of cervical cancers.

Cervical Cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in women, typically affecting those aged 35 to 55 and causing close to 240,000 deaths globally each year. GARDASIL* is leading the way in protecting women from cervical cancer, pre-cancers and genital lesions.

*GARDASIL is a trademark of Merck & Co. Inc.

Mary Sontrop, CSL Biotherapies General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, with a group of young women who have all been vaccinated against cervical cancer. They are the faces of the campaign aimed at Australian women 18 to 26 years of age (from left): Giaan Rooney (Olympic Swimmer and TV presenter), Candice Pascoe (Nurse), Laura Andon (Pro Surfer), Felicity Robertson (Uni Student), Mary Sontrop, Jessica Tsui (Music Journalist), Emma Trueman (Chef), Kate Willetts (Client Administration), Simone Carre (Public Servant), and Tania Major (2007 Young Australian of the Year).

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