Thursday, September 21 2006 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Noida: India is developing a cost-effective and cheaper vaccine for controlling cervical cancer, the most reported cancer in the country, in collaboration with the WHO and a US-based company.

Inaugurating the new research and development complex of the Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO) here on the outskirts of Delhi today, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the facility has taken the initiative to make a vaccine that works against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the major agent causing cervical cancer in women.

ICPO has signed a MoU with pharmaceutical major Merck to develop the vaccine.



"Women will benefit because of the cancer prevention vaccine. Most women are not even aware of cervical cancer. Detecting it among unmarried women is difficult. For this, we are planning to carry out urine tests," Ramadoss said.

Around 1.4 lakh cervical cancer cases are reported every year in India among women, followed by breast cancer (80,000) and mouth (70,000) cancer. About 2.5 cancer cases are reported in the country every year.

Ramadoss said the government's focus is on cancer research has recommended the formation of a separate department of research to the Planning Commission.

"This idea has been okayed by the Prime Minister," he said.

He suggested to ICPO that it start a cancer research hospital in its complex.

India, he said, is the only developing country to be a member of the International Agency in Research in Cancer at Lyons in France.

"This will help us in exchanging information about new developments," he said.