Broad-Spectrum HPV Vaccine Based on Recombinant Measles

Dr. Reinhard Kirnbauer / reinhard.kirnbauer@meduniwien.ac.at Dr. Michael Mühlebach / michael.muehlebach@pei.de Infection with certain high-risk types of Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) may cause carcinomas of the ano-genital tract, in particular cervical cancer (> 500,000 cases and 250,000 deaths per year worldwide), and cancer of the oro-pharynx. Currently licensed prophylactic vaccines are highly effective, yet do not cover all high-risk HPV types, requiring continued cervical cancer screening in vaccinated women. Delivery of HPV vaccines in economically disadvantaged countries, who carry 80% of the worldwide burden of cervical cancer, is complicated by their costs and the need for three immunizations. We aim to generate a next-generation vaccine candidate to protect against a broad-spectrum of HPV types. Measles vaccine is widely used, inexpensive, induces robust protective immunity, has an excellent safety record especially as a pediatric vaccine, and has been tested as vaccine platform against other viruses such as CHIKV, Hepatitis B/C, Dengue, or SARS-2 Coronavirus. We plan to capitalize on these properties and generate an economic next generation candidate vaccine to protect against all cancer-causing HPV types, which may overcome the burden of continued cervical cancer (PAP) screening in women despite licensed vaccines. Measles virus platform derived vaccines have high potential to lower cost burden to public health care, an important aspect particularly to reach low- and middle-income countries. Such vaccines could be implemented at no extra costs in the routine WHO measles eradication program, since the vaccine candidate is still protective against measles. Vaccinations would also protect both sexes against genital HPV infection when administered before reaching adolescence (buy one, get one free). This strategy offers tremendous potential for universal HPV coverage by inclusion into children routine vaccination programs and also target skin warts and other HPV-related complications.