Roche awarded WHO prequalification for the cobas ® HPV test, increasing access to cervical cancer screening tools in low and lower-middle income countries

Every year, over 600,000 women worldwideare diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 340,000 die from this preventable disease, caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Nine out of 10 women who die from cervical cancer live in low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs).1WHO prequalification enables LMICs to use thecobas® HPV test in their national cervical cancer elimination programs, increasing access to the patients who need it most.Establishing screening programs helps prevent and detect cervical cancer, which is especially important in areas with limited healthcare resources where patientsare often diagnosed with the disease at late stages.Basel, 13 June 2023 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the cobas ® HPV test for use on the cobas® 6800/8800 Systems has been awarded World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification. WHO prequalification expands the availability of this critical HPV screening tool in countries that rely on the global organisation’s list in making purchasing and implementation decisions.Screening for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can help identify women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer, so that the disease can be treated early, before invasive cancer has a chance to develop. In poorer countries, women are often diagnosed with cervical cancer at a more advanced stage, where the opportunity for a cure is low.“The elimination of cervical cancer is within reach. Roche is committed to working with governm...
Source: Roche Media News - Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news