Biological health care product provider CSL Ltd announces that a new vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Merck, based on CSL technology, has prevented high grade cervical pre-cancers and non-invasive cervical cancers, reports Asia Pulse.

CSL says that the Gardasil prevents the pre-cancers and non-invasive cervical cancers related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 that make up about 70 per cent of all cervical cancers.

"These results could not be better," Asia Pulse quoted CSL managing director Brian McNamee as saying. "They show that prophylactic vaccination with Gardasil comprehensively eliminates HPV 16 and 18 related cervical pre-cancer and non-invasive cervical cancer."

"This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for both vaccine and cancer research, and is a triumph for Australian science," says McNamee.

According to Asia Pulse, Merck is likely to submit a license application to the US Food and Drug Administration before the end of the year and file an application subsequently with the Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration.