Human papillomavirus vaccines - Cervarix, Gardasil, Gardasil 9, Silgard
- Procedure started
- Under evaluation
- PRAC recommendation
- CHMP opinion
- European Commission final decision
Table of contents
Overview
HPV vaccines: EMA confirms evidence does not support that they cause CRPS or POTS
On 19 November EMA completed its review of the evidence surrounding reports of two syndromes, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in young women given human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. These vaccines are given to protect them from cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers and pre-cancerous conditions. In line with its initial recommendations, EMA confirmed that the evidence does not support a causal link between the vaccines (Cervarix, Gardasil/Silgard and Gardasil 9) and development of CRPS or POTS. Therefore there is no reason to change the way the vaccines are used or amend the current product information.
CRPS is a chronic pain syndrome affecting a limb, while POTS is a condition where the heart rate increases abnormally on sitting or standing up, together with symptoms such as dizziness, fainting and weakness, as well as headache, aches and pains, nausea and fatigue. In some patients they can severely affect the quality of life. The syndromes are recognised to occur in the general population, including adolescents, regardless of vaccination.
Symptoms of CRPS and POTS may overlap with other conditions, making diagnosis difficult in both the general population and vaccinated individuals. However, available estimates suggest that in the general population around 150 girls and young women per million aged 10 to 19 years may develop CRPS each year, and at least 150 girls and young women per million may develop POTS each year. The review found no evidence that the overall occurrence of these syndromes in vaccinated girls were different from expected occurrence in these age groups, even taking into account possible underreporting. The review noted that some symptoms of CRPS and POTS may overlap with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME). Many of the reports considered in the review have features of CFS and some patients had diagnoses of both POTS and CFS. Results of a large published study that showed no link between HPV vaccine and CFS were therefore particularly relevant.
The Agency’s review included published research, data from clinical trials and reports of suspected side effects from patients and healthcare professionals, as well as data supplied by Member States. The Agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) was responsible for the initial review. In reaching its recommendations, it also consulted a group of leading experts in the field, and took into account detailed information received from a number of patient groups that also highlighted the impact these syndromes can have on patients and families.
The findings of the PRAC were passed to the Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), along with further representations from patient groups. The CHMP concurred that the available evidence does not support that CRPS and POTS are caused by HPV vaccines. It therefore did not recommend any changes to the terms of licensing or the product information for these medicines.
The review recognised that more than 80 million girls and women worldwide have now received these vaccines, and in some European countries they have been given to 90% of the age group recommended for vaccination. Use of these vaccines is expected to prevent many cases of cervical cancer (cancer of the neck of the womb, which is responsible for over 20,000 deaths in Europe each year) and various other cancers and conditions caused by HPV. The benefits of HPV vaccines therefore continue to outweigh the known side effects. The safety of these vaccines, as with all medicines, will continue to be carefully monitored and will take into account any future new evidence of side effects that becomes available.
The CHMP’s position was passed to the European Commission which endorsed it and issued a legally binding decision. The assessment report containing the evidence supporting the Agency’s review is available on EMA’s website.
Key facts
About this medicine
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Approved name |
Human papillomavirus vaccines - Cervarix, Gardasil, Gardasil 9, Silgard
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International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name |
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Associated names |
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About this procedure
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Current status |
European Commission final decision
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Reference number |
EMEA/H/A-20/1421
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Type |
Article 20 procedures
This type of procedure is triggered for medicines that have been authorised via the centralised procedure in case of quality, safety or efficacy issues. |
Authorisation model |
Centrally authorised product(s)
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Decision making model |
PRAC-CHMP-EC
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Key dates and outcomes
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Procedure start date |
09/07/2015
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PRAC recommendation date |
06/11/2015
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CHMP opinion/CMDh position date |
19/11/2015
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EC decision date |
12/01/2016
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Outcome |
No further action
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All documents
Procedure started
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - Review started (PDF/76.2 KB)
First published: 13/07/2015
Last updated: 13/07/2015
EMA/454979/2015
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - Timetable for the procedure (PDF/71.19 KB)
First published: 13/07/2015
Last updated: 24/09/2015
EMA/PRAC/454661/2015
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - PRAC list of questions (PDF/72.01 KB)
First published: 13/07/2015
Last updated: 13/07/2015
EMA/PRAC/454436/2015
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - Notification (PDF/46.57 KB)
First published: 13/07/2015
Last updated: 13/07/2015
Recommendation provided by Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee
Opinion provided by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
European Commission final decision
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - Scientific conclusion - Annex (PDF/75 KB)
First published: 20/01/2016
Last updated: 20/01/2016
HPV vaccines - Article-20 procedure - EMA confirms evidence does not support that they cause CRPS or POTS (PDF/104.36 KB)
First published: 20/11/2015
Last updated: 20/01/2016
EMA/749763/2015
Description of documents published
Please note that some of the listed documents apply only to certain procedures.
- Overview - lay-language summary of the stage of the procedure
- Notification – a letter from a Member State, the European Commission or the marketing authorisation holder requesting the initiation of the procedure
- Scientific background – further background information from the triggering Member State on the issues leading to the initiation of the procedure (if applicable)
- List of questions – questions agreed by the Committee requesting further information from the marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s) to evaluate the issues identified
- Timetable for the procedure – agreed timeframe to respond to the list of questions, to assess the issues and to adopt a conclusion
- List of medicines concerned by the procedure – medicine(s) / active substance(s) concerned, and marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s)
- List of questions to be addressed by the stakeholders – call for data to be submitted by stakeholders (e.g. healthcare professionals, patient organisations, individual patients) (if applicable)
- Stakeholder submission form – form to be used by stakeholders to submit data (if applicable)
- Scientific conclusions – scientific conclusions of the PRAC and/or CHMP and/or CMDh
- Assessment report – PRAC or CHMP assessment and conclusions on the issues investigated, including divergent positions (if applicable)
- Divergent positions – divergent positions of the CHMP or CMDh members for pharmacovigilance procedures (if applicable)
- Changes to the summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet (amended sections or fully revised version) (if applicable)
- Condition(s) to the marketing authorisation(s) – condition(s) for the safe and effective use of the medicine(s) (if applicable)
- Condition for lifting the suspension – condition to be fulfilled for the suspension of the marketing authorisation(s) to be lifted (if applicable)
- Timetable for implementation of CMDh position – agreed timeframe to submit and finalise the variation(s) implementing the outcome of the procedure (if applicable)
Note that older documents may have different titles.
News
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20/11/2015
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20/11/2015
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06/11/2015
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05/11/2015
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09/10/2015
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13/07/2015
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13/07/2015