Love Doesn’t Have to End After Valentine’s

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 MSD’s #GuardAgainstHPV campaign to raise awareness on vaccine-preventable diseases

Valentine’s season may be over, but there are other reasons beyond romance to show love, like protecting yourself and your loved ones from vaccine-preventable diseases. One of the most common causes of genital cancers is the human papillomavirus, or HPV. It infects a staggering 85 percent of sexually active men and women at least once in their lifetime.^[1] And while many experience no health problems, there are those that do develop HPV-related diseases—from distressing genital warts to life-threatening cancers.^[2]

It is for that reason that MSD in the Philippines is re-launching Guard Against HPV, a campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to take the necessary steps to keep infections at bay—not just for themselves, but also for their significant others and the whole family.

“HPV remains the most common sexually transmitted infection. Because it often shows no symptoms, people can spread it without realizing it,” explained Dr. Mary Ann Galang-Escalona, Country Medical Lead of MSD in the Philippines. “What this means is that, for many infected people, they may already have passed it on to someone they care about—their partners. If it goes untreated, it can lead to cancer.”

A silent killer

According to a 2019 report by the HPV Information Centre, cervical cancer remains the third leading cancer killer among Filipino women.^[3] The study also says that HPV has caused virtually all of these cases.^[4]

HPV is a large group of viruses that cause growths on the body. Some strains infect the skin, such as with common warts. Others infect mucous membranes or surfaces lining body parts that open outside, such as the genitals, anus, throat, and mouth. The latter is called genital HPV. This type can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse, or rarely by genital to genital contact without actual sex.^[5]

Genital HPV infects people in two ways. Low-risk HPV strains, such as HPV 6 and 11, are often benign, causing warts around the genital and anal area. On the other hand, high-risk HPV strains such as HPV 16 and 18 are cancerous. High-risk HPV strains that remain in the body for many years can cause changes in normal cells, turning them into abnormal cells and then into cancer when left untreated.^[6]

Love that cares

An important step in guarding against HPV is immunization. In fact, health experts recommend HPV immunization to children as young as nine years old to protect them in later life.^[7] Parents are also encouraged to talk to their pediatricians and take advantage of school-based immunization programs for free shots. Currently, HPV immunization is given in public schools by the Department of Health for fourth grade female learners with parental consent.^[8]

Health experts also recommend adults, both males and females, to get immunized. While adults may already be exposed to HPV, the vaccine may help lower their risk for new infections.^[9] This will allow them to take better care of their health while protecting others when they enter new relationships.

“HPV and cancer don’t have to rob our loved ones of their future,” Galang-Escalona said. “Everyone deserves a future free from disease. Let’s create that future by making a commitment to keep our partners and families safe from HPV.”

Learn more about HPV immunization by following the Guard Against HPV page on Facebook and @guardagainsthpv on Instagram.

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About Guard Against HPV

Guard Against HPV is an advocacy campaign of MSD in the Philippines, a member of the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). MSD strictly adheres to the PHAP Code of Practice and all applicable laws and regulations. MSD maintains high ethical standards in the conduct of all its activities including media interactions. To that end, MSD wishes to reinforce and remind you of the following principles:

-        The objective of any article published in lay media should be to increase awareness on the burden of disease, risk factors, complications, and the role of existing and future therapeutic options. 

-        All articles published in lay media should provide balanced and accurate information.

-        There should be no mention of pharmaceutical brand names or any promotion of pharmaceutical products.

-        There should be no references to off-label uses of a prescription product.

-        All readers should be encouraged to consult their healthcare provider for information and guidance.

 

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^[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reasons to Get Vaccinated. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine/six-reasons.html. Date accessed 29 March 2021.

^[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

^[3] Bruni L, Albero G, Serrano B, Mena M, Gómez D, Muñoz J, Bosch FX, de Sanjosé S. ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (HPV Information Centre). Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases in Philippines. Summary Report 17 June 2019. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

^[4] Ibid.

^[5] Cancer.org. HPV and Cancer. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/infectious-agents/hpv/hpv-and-cancer-info.html. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

^[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Basic Information about HPV and Cancer. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/index.htm. Date accessed 29 March 2021.

^[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/public/index.html. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

^[8] Department of Health. “School-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Launched in Mandaluyong City.” Retrieved from: https://doh.gov.ph/node/10736. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

^[9] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/public/index.html. Date accessed 26 February 2021.

Hopeless cases no more - Immunotherapy drug for advanced stages of lung cancer and melanoma now in the Philippines

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 MSD launched the New Trend in Cancer Treatment held at the Manila Diamond Hotel, Manila City,  March 17, 2016 

“Addressing the rising incidence of cancer is indeed a tough road to embark on. MSD has been dedicating its resources to developing innovative oncology medicines. Pembrolizumab propelled our research efforts to understand of the role of the immune system and the PD-L1 pathway in cancer treatment” said Dr. Beaver Tamesis, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Philippines.

With this immunotherapy finally available in the Philippines, cancer patients need not equate being diagnosed with advanced or metastatic lung cancer or melanomas a death sentence. Thanks to this breakthrough in cancer medication, patients in the Philippines and abroad have a ray of hope and confidence in what used to be a hopeless case.

An educational article sponsored by MSD

The spark of hope has never been brighter for Filipino patients with advanced stages of lung cancer and melanoma. MSD in the Philippines, a leader in oncology research and development just introduced immunotherapy, one of the most innovative cancer treatment methods to date.

One type of immunotherapy called immune checkpoint inhibitors is a form of cancer treatment that prevents the interaction between the immune system’s T-cells and the tumors. When tumors and T-cells interact, a protein found in the tumor called the Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) deactivates T-cells so they become incapable of recognizing and destroying cancer cells. Through immunotherapy, this interaction is blocked so that T-cells can detect and ward off the cancer cells.

In the Philippines, the anti PD-L1 immunotherapy drug Pembrolizumab received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic lung cancer and melanoma after failing first-line treatment. In a media roundtable symposium held March 17 in Manila, Dr Gerardo Cornelio, Cancer Institute Head of St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City shared that "Pembrolizumab has the potential to become an integral part of cancer treatment. It has and will be tested across a broad spectrum of cancers." 

Burden of Disease

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases and annual cases are expected to rise to 22 million within the next two decades. In 2012 alone, there were 14 million new cases reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) with 8.2 million cancer-related deaths. A significant contributor to this statistic is lung cancer, which is the top cause of cancer mortality for both sexes worldwide.

Sadly, incidence from the Philippines is not far off from the global data. According to Globocan 2012, Iung cancer is the second most common cancer in incidence and mortality among Filipino men and women.

As for melanoma, a skin cancer whose risk factors include sun exposure, fair complexion and genetics, around 300 Filipinos are affected annually. Though melanoma is not one of the most common cancers in the country, early diagnosis remains a challenge for most patients. 

The good news is that for many cancers there have been significant breakthroughs – from prevention to treatment options – however, the unmet needs remain high. 

Durable responses, lower toxicities

Clinical trials have shown immunotherapy’s efficacy in the treatment of advanced lung cancer and melanoma. According to a study published in LANCET, Pembrolizumab showed superior overall survival with less high-grade toxicity for previously treated, PD-L1-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Results of the trials showed that the most common side effects for lung cancer patients receiving Pembrolizumab were decreased appetite, fatigue, nausea, and rash.

Clinical trials also showed that Pembrolizumab has superior anticancer activity in patients with advanced melanoma who failed previous therapies. In terms of safety profile, Pembrolizumab showed a lower incidence of treatment-related adverse events compared to chemotherapy. 

Biomarkers play a key role in patient response

The expression of a certain biomarker in patients’ tumors played an important role in their response to Pembrolizumab. Biomarkers are proteins found in a patient’s tissue, blood or fluids that can help determine the outcome of a patient’s disease or response to medication. Clinical trials have shown that if a patients’ tumors express the biomarker Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1), patients are more likely to have a better response to the drug.

DOH, MSD, Medical Societies Come Together to Prevent Cervical Cancer

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Implement free nationwide screening for the month of May

The Department of Health (DOH), global pharmaceutical company MSD and medical societies hope to go full circle for this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in May, and strike directly at the source of cervical cancer—the human papillomavirus or HPV.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women which causes cervical cancer. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer afflicting women worldwide with about 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths each year. In the Philippines, an estimated 12 Filipino women die due to cervical cancer each day.

For these reasons, the DOH and MSD, along with medical societies Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines (SGOP) and Philippine Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (PSCPC), continue with their partnership, dubbed as Babae, MahalagaKa!, for the 6^th year of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) celebration.

Free cervical cancer screening will be offered to women aged 30-49 years old in 58 DOH-retained hospitals nationwide for the whole month of May. “Screening, either through Pap smear or visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA), should be done on women who are sexually active or had history of sexual contact. This service is being offered for free every May in government hospitals, to help detect cervical cancer in its early stage, while it is still treatable and curable,” said Dr. Rey Delos Reyes, past President of POGS and SGOP, consultant of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

“The good news is that early this year, PhilHealth included the treatment for cervical cancer in the Z Benefit Package program. The benefit package includes cervical cancer chemoradiation with cobalt or primary surgery worth Php120,000 or cervical cancer chemoradiation with linear accelerator for Php175,000 depending on what is needed by the patient,” imparts DOH Secretary Enrique Ona.

Apart from free screenings nationwide, MSD in partnership with DOH will be providing free quadrivalent HPV vaccinations to 9,000 girls aged 13 years old this coming school year. “Our mission is not only to discover and develop medicines and vaccines for unmet medical needs but we would also like to make these accessible to people who can benefit from them. This initiative would help demonstrate how to implement a school-based vaccination program which can serve as a model for a national program,” shares Sanjiv Navangul, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Philippines.

Aside from cervical cancer, the quadrivalent HPV vaccine can also prevent vulvar and vaginal cancer, as well as genital warts. It is important to note that HPV is implicated in various diseases aside from cervical cancer such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, head and neck, and genital warts. It is themost common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women get it at some point in their lives.

“Due to the many risks that HPV poses and the many lives claimed by cervical cancer, the DOH hopes that through the yearly celebration of CCAM, more and more women will be educated and encouraged to undergo screening and vaccination, “says Secretary Ona.