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Washington (dpa) - Researchers may have reached a breakthrough in preventing cervical cancer, according to results of a study released Thursday by the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co.
A comprehensive clinical trial of the experimental vaccine Gardasil found it to be 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease, the company said in a statement.
More than 12,000 women from 13 countries participated in the trial of the vaccine, which targets two sexually-transmitted viruses that cause the cancer. Both viruses are associated with the human papilloma virus.
Cervical cancer is preventable and curable when detected early. However, it remains the most common cancer in women in some parts of the world.
Copyright 2005 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
