More good news on Gardasil cross-protection?

An Associated Press story published last week began with what seemed to be remarkable news:

"New data show that a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer partially blocks infection by 10 strains of the virus on top of the four types targeted. That boosts protection - at least partially - to 90 percent of strains causing the deadly cancer, according to data presented yesterday at a medical conference by Merck & Co., maker of Gardasil."

90% protection? Recalling that 70% had long been the number used to quantify the percentage of cervical cancer-causing HPV strains covered by the vaccine, this would be a major development.

As is often the case with unpublished data presented at medical conferences, specifics on the research results are difficult to come by. However, this WebMD story published at CBSNews.com adds more detail, explaining, "The new study, which involved about 11,000 young women aged 15 to 26, shows that the vaccine is also 38% effective against 10 additional HPV types, which are responsible for an additional 20% of cervical cancers."

The fact that the vaccine is only 38% effective against these additional strains is never clearly stated in the AP story. (Research has shown the vaccine to be 100% effective against the 70% of cancer-causing strains included in the vaccine.)

The findings are still good news, but readers of the AP story -- published in our hometown Philadelphia Inquirer and no doubt many other newspapers -- could be excused for thinking it was even more noteworthy.

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In other Gardasil news, Merck announced today plans to donate 3 million doses of the vaccine for use in the developing world. Here's coverage from the Associated Press and a Merck press release.