MSD receives ACIP recommendation for Gardasil

The US Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) has recommendation the use of Merck Sharpe & Dohme’s (MSD’s) Gardasil.

The drug is used to help prevent cervical cancer in girls and women aged between 11 and 26 and specifically indicated for use on precancerous and low-grade cervical lesions, vulvar and vaginal precancers and genital warts caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Vaccination guidelines have been published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and are now available for physicians to finalise the provisional recommendations which were made by the advisory issued by the ACIP in June last year.

Lauding the CDC decision as “an important milestone in cervical cancer prevention”, Margaret McGlynn, president of MSD Vaccines, said the group is anticipating community work with the therapy.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the public health community, physicians, parents and others to support the implementation of this broad recommendation for Gardasil to help achieve our common public health goal of reducing the burden of cervical cancer and HPV-related diseases for as many females as possible, as quickly as possible,” she commented.

Last month, MSD received Food and Drug Administration acceptance for a standard review of its diabetes medication Januvia.