News releases

• Striving to eliminate HPV-related cervical cancer in Ireland represents an opportunity to save lives and reduce the economic burden of cervical cancer by €72.8million euro annually ⁽¹⁾.
• New Irish research is part of a wider, global research project for World Immunisation Week 2025 by global research company, Asc Academics and Prof. Maarten J. Postma of the University of Groningen, which was fully funded by MSD.
• Despite “significant progress ⁽¹⁾,” ongoing efforts are required to achieve the target of eliminating cervical cancer in Ireland to maintain status as “one of the leading countries in HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination ⁽¹⁾.”

April 30th, 2025: A new research report has been launched ahead of World Immunisation Week 2025 (24th – 30th April 2025) which reveals the high economic burden of preventable HPV-related cervical cancer in Ireland. The new research, which looks at published and available data in Ireland has revealed that the costs associated with preventable HPV-related cervical cancer could be as high as €72.8 million annually ⁽¹⁾.

The Human Impact of HPV: Despite being largely preventable, cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers globally. It results in 350,000 global deaths annually and imposes significant economic strain on healthcare systems ⁽²⁾. In Ireland alone, there are an estimated 250 cases diagnosed annually, and 80 lives lost each year to this disease ⁽³⁾.

The Economic Burden: The estimated costs associated with managing all cases of HPV-related cervical cancer were found to be approximately €72.8 million ⁽¹⁾.

• Cost per Case: The average cost of managing invasive cervical cancer per patient in Ireland was found to be approximately €27,993 ⁽¹⁾.
• HPV-Related Genital Warts: The average cost per case of treating genital warts caused by HPV, among females in Ireland was approximately €539 per case/year, which is higher than the treatment for male patients (Average of €441 per case) due to more extensive treatment and consultation ⁽¹⁾. In 2018, there were 1,031 reported cases (21.7 per 100,000) of genital warts ⁽⁴⁾. In 2025, with an estimated population of 5.3 million, the number of cases is projected to be about 1,150 ⁽¹⁾.
• Lost Productivity: Looking at the costs associated with HPV-related cervical cancer in Ireland through lost productivity it is estimated that €65.4 million annually can be attributed to premature death due to cervical cancer ⁽¹⁾.

WHO Targets for Cervical Cancer Elimination: According to the report, Ireland is on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 aligned with the WHO 90-70-90 targets for vaccination, screening, and treatment ⁽¹⁾. However, despite “significant progress” made in meeting these goals, and Ireland currently exceeding WHO targets in two of the three core categories, risk exists amidst year-on-year decline in one of the three goals ⁽¹⁾. By sustaining all three goals, Ireland can continue to be one of the leading countries in HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination ⁽¹⁾.

HPV and cervical cancer: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection ⁽⁵⁾, and it is estimated that 8 in 10 sexually active people will become infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime ⁽⁶⁾. For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases ⁽⁷⁾.

Global Research: The new report focused on Ireland has been launched alongside several other comparable research reports, and as part of a wider research project by Asc Academics and Prof. Maarten J. Postma, Professor of Pharmacoeconomics at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, fully funded by MSD. A 13 country report has also been published entitled, ‘HPV’s Economic Burden: Unmasking the Benefits of HPV Prevention’ to estimate the economic burden of HPV in 13 selected countries, including, Austria, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the Netherlands and the Philippines, representing different healthcare systems, immunisation programmes, cultural backgrounds, geographic regions, and epidemiological landscapes.

Speaking about the research findings, Prof. Maarten J. Postma, Professor of Pharmacoeconomics at the University of Groningen, said: “This research underscores how each country’s progress is shaped by unique healthcare systems, cultural views, investment, and policies. Common barriers include limited access, misinformation, hesitancy, and cultural norms. Addressing these issues can expand prevention efforts, screening, and treatment programs, especially in countries with low coverage. Investing in HPV prevention saves lives and cuts future healthcare costs long-term, saving countries like Ireland millions of dollars per year, and even billions in some cases (China) if elimination can be achieved. Every country can strive to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue. This report emphasises that prevention is both a health necessity and an economic benefit, and that prevention is a cost-effective measure with immediate and long-term advantages.”

The findings underline the human and economic benefit of striving to eliminate certain HPV-related diseases including cervical cancer and genital warts.

ENDS

Notes

WHO Global Initiative to Eliminate Cervical Cancer: In 2020, WHO comprising 194 governments, launched the Global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem ⁽⁸⁾. To ensure progress towards the elimination goal WHO established three targets: vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance HPV test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45; treatment: 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed ⁽⁸⁾. The WHO defines cervical cancer elimination as reducing the number of new cases annually to four or fewer per 100,000 women ⁽⁸⁾.

About Asc Academics: Asc Academics is a specialized market access and health economics consultancy founded in 2015, with 35 passionate people contributing to the global life science community, aiming to create accessible and equitable healthcare for all. We provide a unique fusion of rigorous academic excellence, a results-driven business mindset, and a client-centered approach. Asc Academics has an enjoyable culture of excellence with an experienced team that executes collaborations with the public and private sectors beyond the task at hand. Our mission is to support the global life science sector by developing evidence-based solutions that optimize patient access and demonstrate the value of interventions. Our company’s core values—excellence, passion, collaboration, empathy, and enjoyment—drive our dedication to innovate and exceed expectations.

About MSD: MSD Ireland is one of the country’s leading healthcare companies, having first established here nearly 50 years ago. The company has a dynamic and diverse team of over 3,000 employees currently working across seven sites in Ballydine, Co. Tipperary, Brinny, Co. Cork, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Carlow and Dublin, and, in addition, operate substantial Human Health and Animal Health businesses. At MSD Ireland, we work at the forefront of science and technology to advance manufacturing excellence and R&D across our Irish sites and global company network. With a long-standing footprint in Ireland, our Irish sites manufacture approximately half of MSD’s top 20 products, helping save and enhance lives in over 140 countries around the world.

References

1. Asc Academics & Prof. Maarten J. Postma, “the economic burden of HPV-related diseases: Ireland” – Data on file, completed 2024.
2. Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet – World Health Organization, Published 5th March 2024
3. NCRI. Cancer In Ireland 1994 – 2022. 2024 [cited 2025, March]; Available
4. HSE- Anogenital warts in Ireland, 2018: Annual Epidemiological Report [cited 2025, March]; Available Ano-genital warts in Ireland 2018 (includes latest trends).pdf
5. Bruni Laia, et al. “Global and regional estimates of genital human papillomavirus prevalence among men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Lancet Glob Health. 2023 Sep; 11(9): e1345–e1362
6. CCAE – “Stop Cervical Cancer Before it Starts”, [Last Accessed: 28th January 2024]
7. CDC. 2024. About HPV. (Accessed March 2025)
8. HSE – Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan. 2024 [cited 2025, March]; Available
   

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