Vaccine May Be a Winner for Merck

An experimental Merck (MRK Quote) vaccine designed to protect women from cervical cancer was completely successful, according to the findings of a company-sponsored research program.

The vaccine, Gardasil, is being developed to fight the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. The research found that Gardasil recorded a 100% prevention rate of certain early cancers and precancerous lesions for two types of HPV that account for 70% of cervical cancers.

Laura Koutsky, principal investigator of the HPV research group at the University of Washington, said the results are the first pivotal data to show that vaccination with Gardasil reduced cervical precancer and noninvasive cervical cancer associated with HPV 16 and HPV 18, the two major types of HPV. ...