Merck receives WHO pre-qualification for RotateQ

Merck has announced its pentavalent rotavirus vaccine RotateQ has been awarded pre-qualification status by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The company states the medication helps prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and children – and WHO pre-qualification allows for expanded access to the therapy, providing greater opportunity to help protect millions of babies from the condition.

Due to the fact that the organisation has pre-qualified the vaccine, it is eligible for procurement by Unicef, the Pan American Health Organisation and other United Nations agencies for use in national immunisation programmes.

Mark Feinberg, managing director and vice-president of medical affairs and policy at Merck vaccines and infectious diseases, states the pre-qualification is an “important milestone” in expanding global availability of RotateQ.

He adds: “Merck’s pledge to provide RotateQ to GAVI-eligible countries at prices at which we do not profit is another step to make this vaccine accessible to all who need it in every part of the world.”

In recent days, Merck announced the US Food and Drug Administration had approved its Gardasil medication to protect against two additional cancers.