Human papillomavirus infection has clearly been recognized as the cause of cervical cancer. Indeed, the infection of the cervix by certain oncogenic types of HPV, if not cleared , can lead over time to cervical cancer in women . This study will evaluate the immune response induced by the HPV-16/18 L1 VLP AS04 vaccine and the safety of the vaccine.

The Protocol Posting has been updated in order to comply with the FDA Amendment Act, Sep 2007.

The protocol was primarily amended for the following reason:

Merck's tetravalent HPV vaccine, Gardasil®, has been licensed and is now becoming commercially available in an increasing number of countries. Therefore, the study procedures were revised to include questions at every visit to determine if subjects have received an HPV vaccine outside of the study.

Inclusion criteria:

• Subjects who the investigator believes that they can and will comply with the requirements of the protocol should be enrolled in the study.
• A female of Chinese origin, residing in Hong Kong aged between, and including, 18 and 35 years at the time of the first vaccination.
• Written informed consent obtained from the subject.
• Healthy subjects as established by medical history and clinical examination before entering into the study.
• Subjects must have a negative urine pregnancy test.
• Subjects of childbearing potential at the time of study entry must be abstinent or must be using adequate contraceptive precautions for 30 days prior to vaccination and must agree to continue such precautions for two months after completion of the vaccination series.

Exclusion criteria:

• Use of any investigational or non-registered product (drug or vaccine) other than the study/ control vaccine within 30 days preceding the first dose of study/ control vaccine, or planned use during the study period.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Planning to become pregnant or likely to become pregnant.
• Chronic administration of immunosuppressants or other immune-modifying drugs within six months prior to the first vaccine dose.
• Planned administration/administration of a vaccine not foreseen by the study protocol within 30 days before and 30 days after the first dose of vaccine. Administration of routine vaccines up to 8 days before the first dose of study vaccine is allowed. Enrolment will be deferred until the subject is outside of specified window.
• Previous administration of components of the investigational vaccine.
• Previous vaccination against HPV or planned administration of any HPV vaccine other than that foreseen by the study protocol during the study period.
• Any medically diagnosed or suspected immunodeficient condition based on medical history and physical examination.
• History of allergic disease, suspected allergy or reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of the study/ control vaccines.
• Hypersensitivity to latex.
• Known acute or chronic, clinically significant neurologic, pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic or renal functional abnormality, as determined by previous physical examination or laboratory tests.
• History of chronic condition(s) requiring treatment.
• Administration of immunoglobulins and/or any blood product within three months preceding the first dose of study/ control vaccine or planned administration during the study period. Enrolment will be deferred until the subject is outside of specified window.
• Acute disease at the time of enrolment.

Patient-level data for this study will be made available through www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com following the timelines and process described on this site.