MSD pioneers gender-neutral HPV vaccine in India

pharmafile | September 30, 2021 | News story | Business Services  

MSD Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of India’s first gender-neutral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to ABP Live. The aim of the vaccine is to alleviate the burden of HPV-related disease in the country.

The vaccine, GARDASIL 9, is the only FDA approved vaccine, and was first launched in the US in 2015. It has been approved in over 80 countries across the globe, which helps protect against nine types of HPV. GARDASIL 9 will also help reduce cancers caused by the HPV types contained in the vaccine, including cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and anal cancer, among girls and women aged between 9-26 years.

The vaccine is also recommended to be administered to boys aged 9-15 years, for the prevention of genital warts, anal intraepithelial neoplasia, anal cancer, and precancerous or dysplastic lesions.

GARDASIL 9 is a nano valent vaccine given as an intramuscular injection, in a total of three doses spread over six months, says ABP Live. The 9-valent HPV vaccine helps in reducing cancers caused by the HPV types contained in the vaccine.

According to Zee News – Managing Director of MSD-India, Rehan A Khan, said in an official statement: “Launching GARDASIL 9 is a crucial step towards advancing the mission of building a healthy young India by reducing the disease burden of HPV-related cancers and disease in the country.”

Khan emphasised that it is vital to raise awareness, among parents of young people, about the overwhelming HPV disease burden in India.

HPV is a group of viruses that infect the skin and moist areas of the body, and there are more than 100 types, of which at least 14 can lead to cancer, according to WHO. It is extremely common worldwide, highlighting the ever-present importance of widespread vaccination.

Lina Adams


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