First vaccine against cervical cancer is approved

The first vaccine against cervical cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The disease kills 233,000 women worldwide each year.

Four different clinical trials involving 21,000 women around the world demonstrated Gardasil was "nearly 100% effective" in preventing HPV-caused precancerous cervical, vaginal and vulvar lesions. It also prevented genital warts effectively,

The vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes genital warts that can lead to cancer. HPV infections are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. The vaccine is effective against four key types of the virus.