November 14-16, 2025 - The CAV First Annual Academic Conference & Expo (CAVAC) was successfully held in Xiamen, Fujian.

As the first major academic event organized by CAVAC, the conference brought together experts and scholars from CDCs at all levels, research institutes, universities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, CAVAC branches and its member units, as well as domestic and international vaccine and biopharmaceutical companies. Through multi-dimensional, high-quality academic exchanges, it collectively inaugurated a new chapter for vaccine academic discourse in China.

Innovax played an active role in this grand event, highlighting several innovative products, including its newly launched Cecolin 9 (Recombinant Human Papillomavirus 9-Valent Vaccine), which comprehensively demonstrated its solid progress in vaccine R&D and global collaboration.

During the conference’s authoritative academic sessions, Professor Zhang Jun systematically reviewed the development journey of domestic HPV vaccines, from the bivalent to the 9-valent generation, in a thematic report titled: “Domestic HPV Vaccines — From Academia to Public Health.” He noted that Cecolin 9 not only shows immunogenicity and safety comparable to another marketed HPV 9-valent vaccine, but also shows protective efficacy against key HPV types. The vaccine’s approval represents a major milestone in China’s research and industrialisation of high-valency HPV vaccines, offering a high-quality Chinese solution for global cervical cancer prevention and control.

As China’s first and the world’s second 9-valent HPV vaccine, Cecolin 9 has had its clinical data published in leading international journals. Reference to WHO prequalification (PQ), U.S. FDA, and EU standards. Cecolin 9 demonstrated immunogenicity and safety comparable to another marketed HPV 9-valent vaccine in head-to-head studies. The findings have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases ^[1] and The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific ^[2].

Phase III clinical results show that Cecolin 9 maintains the protection of the bivalent Cecolin against HPV 16- and 18-related infections and lesions, while demonstrating 100% protection efficacy against persistent cervical infections (lasting 12 months or more) caused by HPV 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58—types not covered by the bivalent vaccine ^[3]. Throughout the entire study period, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile.

Cecolin 9 is now being introduced across China through phased, appointment-based vaccination and has to date been made available in 14 provinces and municipalities. Innovax is actively advancing the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification (PQ) process for Cecolin 9, reaffirming its commitment to delivering high-quality vaccines worldwide and contributing to the protection of global public health.

In addition to the highly anticipated Cecolin 9 (9-valent HPV vaccine), Innovax also showcased other innovative products like Cecolin (the WHO-prequalified bivalent HPV vaccine) and Hecolin (recombinant hepatitis E vaccine). Attending experts and scholars engaged in in-depth discussions on the technical features and application prospects of these products, fully affirming Innovax's achievements in innovative R&D.

The ten-year real-world performance of Cecolin ^[4] and the validated effectiveness of Hecolin during hepatitis E outbreaks ^[5]—solid evidence derived from long-term surveillance and real-world use—drew significant attention from attending experts and scholars. These data prompted in-depth discussions on the technical attributes of the products and their prospects for global deployment.

As a key member of CAV, Innovax's active participation fully demonstrates its sense of responsibility in promoting China's innovation and industry development, as well as its firm commitment to enhancing vaccine accessibility, fostering industry innovation, and contributing to global public health. Innovax will continue to deepen collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research, contributing more Chinese wisdom and strength to global disease prevention efforts.

References

[1]Zhu FC, Zhong GH, Huang WJ, et al. Head-to-head immunogenicity comparison of an Escherichia coli-produced 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine and Gardasil 9 in women aged 18-26 years in China: a randomised blinded clinical trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023 Nov;23(11):1313-1322. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00275-X/abstract

[2] Zhong GH, Bi ZH, Chu K, et al. Immunogenicity comparison of an Escherichia coli-produced 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine and Gardasil9 in Chinese women aged 18–26 years: three-year follow-up data from a randomised clinical trial. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2025 Sep. 62: 101671.

[3] Package insert of Cecolin 9.

[4] Zhao F, Chen Q, Zhao C, et al. Chao Zhao,d Long-term efficacy and immunopersistence of an Escherichia coli-produced HPV-16/18 bivalent vaccine: an observational extension study following a randomised, double-blind Phase III clinical trial cohort. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. August 2025. 61: 101668.

[5] Robin C Nesbitt, Vincent Kinya Asilaza, Catia Alvarez, et al. The effectiveness of two doses of recombinant hepatitis E vaccine in response to an outbreak in Bentiu, South Sudan: a case–control and bias indicator study.Lancet Infect Dis 2025; 25(5): 537–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00657-1.