HEADLINES:

British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline received a boost today after research into its cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix showed it is the only treatment to protect against five of the most common viruses associated with the disease.

The study, which was published in medical journal The Lancet today, found that Cervarix defends against strains of the human papilloma viruses that cause 82% of all cervical cancers.

The research is expected to help Glaxo's application for Cervarix's approval in the US, where rival pharma giant Merck's Gardasil vaccine currently has a monopoly and generated $1.4 billion (£864.3 million) in sales last year.

Cervarix, which is already approved in nearly 100 countries including the members of the European Union, made Glaxo £125 million last year.

Glaxo and Merck have been seeking new markets for Cervarix and Gardasil, including suggesting that the vaccines, currently offered to girls and young women, should also be used by men to protect them and their future sexual partners.