Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a prominent pharmaceutical company in the U.S., has announced that it has received marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent vaccine, Gardasil 9. The vaccine is now approved for a two-dose vaccination schedule (0, 6-12 months) for females aged 9 to 14 years, expanding upon its previous approval as a three-dose regimen for females aged 9 to 45.
Gardasil 9 is engineered to prevent cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and anus, which are caused by specific HPV types including 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Additionally, the vaccine targets cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1/2/3 grade) and cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) caused by the same HPV types, as well as persistent infections caused by HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
This new approval for a two-dose schedule in younger females is expected to simplify the vaccination process and potentially increase the uptake of the vaccine, which is crucial in the prevention of HPV-related cancers and diseases.- Flcube.com
