A Comprehensive Evaluation of the HPV Neutralizing Antibodies in Guangzhou, China: A Comparative Study on Various HPV Vaccines.

Background: The evaluation of HPV vaccine effectiveness is essential for informing public health strategies, yet there remains a gap in understanding humoral immune responses generated by different HPV vaccine formulations in regional populations. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the immunogenicity of the newly developed HPV vaccine Cecolin (Wantai), alongside various imported vaccines, including bivalent, quadrivalent, and nonavalent options available in China.

Methods: From March 2023 to June 2024, a total of 352 participants were enrolled, including 87 females aged 9-14 years who received two doses of the bivalent HPV vaccine (Cecolin), 215 females aged 15-45 years who were fully vaccinated with various HPV vaccines, and 50 non-recipients. Follow-up assessments were conducted at six timepoints during the administration of Cecolin. Serum was collected at enrollment and at each follow-up visit for antibody assessments using a pseudovirion-based neutralization assay (PBNA).

Findings: The longitudinal follow-up of females aged 9-14 years revealed a 100% conversion rate for neutralizing antibodies against HPV types 16 and 18 after the second dose, compared to 94.3% and 97.1% conversion rates six months after the first dose. Compared to participants who received full doses of quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines, females who received two or three doses of Cecolin exhibited higher neutralizing antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) and non-vaccine-type (HPV31 and HPV33) antibody seroconversion rates.

Interpretation: The domestically produced HPV vaccine Cecolin in China demonstrates strong immunogenicity and holds promise for the large-scale vaccination of females in developing countries to prevent cervical cancer.