China has recently approved its first domestically developed nine-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to the National Medical Products Administration.
The vaccine, Cecolin 9, was jointly developed by the Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University and Wantai BioPharm.
Its approval makes China the second country in the world, after the United States, with the capability to independently supply high-valency HPV vaccines.
Since 2019, the vaccine has been through five clinical trials conducted across China, involving more than 11,000 healthy volunteers aged nine to 45.
Results from these trials showed that the vaccine provides strong protection against HPV types 16 and 18, the same strains covered by the two-valent vaccine, as well as five other HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, with a protection rate of over 98 percent against persistent infections lasting more than 12 months and a 100 percent protection rate against cervical infections.
For girls aged nine to 17, just two doses are sufficient to produce an immune response comparable to that seen in women aged 18 to 26 who receive three doses. For girls aged 15 to 17, it is currently the only two-dose HPV vaccine available in China.
A comparative study showed that the new vaccine offers immune responses comparable with similar international products for at least 30 months after full immunization. These findings have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The new vaccine is the latest achievement from the research team that also developed China's first domestically made two-valent HPV vaccine in 2019. In 2021, the two-valent HPV vaccine received pre-qualification from the World Health Organization (WHO) and has since entered the market in 21 countries.
Cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide in 2022, according to the WHO. China made free HPV vaccination accessible to approximately 40 percent of girls aged 13 to 14 in 2024, as part of its ongoing work to tackle cervical cancer, according to the National Health Commission.
China approves first domestically produced nine-valent HPV vaccine
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
