Gardasil prequalified by WHO

The World Health Organization has prequalified Merck & Co's cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, meaning it is now eligible for procurement by UN agencies for use in national immunization programs.

The company says it will offer the vaccine to public sectors of eligible members of the GAVI Alliance at not-for-profit prices. The GAVI Alliance says: "We are absolutely interested in funding HPV vaccine". The vaccine has been approved in 111 countries, 23 of which are GAVI-eligible.

Cervical cancer is a significant burden in developing countries, where almost 80% of cases occur. In 2007, Merck & Co promised to help improve access to the vaccine, by committing to donate at least three million doses to developing countries.

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