MSD to accelerate access to Rotateq

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD), has announced plans to continue collaborating with its partners in public health to accelerate access to Rotateq (rotavirus vaccine, live, oral pentavalent).

The company made this statement after the publication of a report from the US Centres for Disease Control Prevention which showed significant reduction in the rotavirus disease in the US from November 2007 to May 2008 compared with the same period in previous years.

A reduction in the number of positive laboratory tests for the disease and related medical care was seen in data from two surveillance systems.

MSD said additional assessment and monitoring would be conducted to ascertain whether this reduction is related to the use of its vaccine product.

Mark Feinberg, vice-president of medical affairs and policy at Merck Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, said: “The opportunity to make substantive contributions to advancing public health goals is what motivates us at Merck.”

He added that the company would work to ensure Rotateq is used to its fullest potential in a bid to reduce the global burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis.

In December 2007, MSD announced the result of a post-hoc data analysis showing that Rotateq reduced emergency department visits and hospitalisations occuring as a result of the G9P1A[8] rotavirus serotype by 100 per cent.