The Institute of Public Health (IPH) Punjab has announced the development of a vaccine aimed at preventing breast cancer among women — a breakthrough that experts say could be a landmark achievement for the country’s healthcare system.
A policy dialogue has been initiated on the production of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which health officials believe could play a crucial role in reducing cancer cases in Pakistan.
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja lauded the development, stating that the provincial government was prioritizing health sector reforms.
“The development of the Papilloma Vaccine by the Institute of Public Health is a remarkable achievement,” he said.
Renowned medical expert Professor Dr. Javed Akram explained that administering three doses of the vaccine to girls at the age of 12 would provide lifelong protection against the disease.
Meanwhile, on the international front, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Datroway — a precision medicine developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo — to treat advanced breast cancer.
The therapy, classified as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) or “guided missile” treatment, specifically targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, unlike conventional chemotherapy. The drug, priced at $4,891.07 per vial, will be available in the U.S. within two weeks.
