Serum Institute of India launches nationwide HPV-Cancer Awareness Drive with “Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025” in Bhubaneswar

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 18, 2025

In a major push to combat HPV-related cancers in India, the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, launched its nationwide awareness campaign with the “Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025” in Bhubaneswar today. The initiative seeks to educate the public on the growing threat of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly its link to cervical and other preventable cancers, and to promote early vaccination and screening.

India continues to carry one of the world’s highest burdens of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among Indian women. According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), the country reports over 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and more than 77,000 deaths annually. Additionally, HPV is responsible for up to 90 per cent of anal cancers and 63 per cent of penile cancers, affecting both genders. Despite these alarming figures, awareness and preventive measures remain insufficient across large sections of the population.

The Bhubaneswar conclave brought together a distinguished panel of medical experts who offered insights into HPV transmission, vaccine efficacy, and the need for proactive public health interventions.

Notable speakers included Dr. Tushar Kar, Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nayak, Dr. Mrutunjay Dash, Dr. Pyarilal Tripathy, and Dr. Susrut Das. The session was expertly moderated by Dr. Sunil Kumar Agarwalla, who underscored the urgency of reaching adolescents, parents, and educators with credible information and accessible vaccination options.

The experts emphasized that HPV is not limited to cervical cancer but is also implicated in cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx. With peak infection rates occurring between ages 15 and 25, the panel stressed the importance of early vaccination and consistent health education. SII’s indigenously developed HPV vaccine, Cervavac, represents a major milestone in India’s fight against HPV. It is a quadrivalent, gender-neutral vaccine approved for use in both males and females, making it a vital tool for broader immunization coverage and long-term cancer prevention.

“Through these conclaves across the country, we aim to increase understanding of HPV and its association with several cancers,” said Parag Deshmukh, Executive Director of SII. “By uniting medical professionals, healthcare workers, and the community, we hope to foster informed decisions and encourage preventive healthcare practices,” he added.

The conclave concluded with an engaging Q&A session, inviting audience participation and reinforcing the campaign’s mission to empower communities through awareness. As the campaign continues across multiple Indian cities, it will provide platforms for knowledge-sharing and advocacy, driven by the vision to reduce the burden of preventable cancers.

With over five decades of leadership in vaccine innovation, the Serum Institute of India continues to play a transformative role in public health. Its launch of Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed HPV vaccine, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the health of future generations.