By: Lynn Shapiro
08 October 2010
The anticipated approval of Gardasil [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant, Merck] for women 27 to 45 years of age has thrown the issue of vaccine reimbursement for pharmacists into the spotlight.
A Merck spokeswoman told Drug Topics that the company expects to hear from FDA by year’s end on whether the vaccine will be approved for women up to age 45. At present, Gardasil is approved for females 9 through 26 years of age to help prevent 2 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer and 2 types that cause genital warts. The HPV vaccine also can help protect against vulvar and vaginal cancers.
Gardasil also has been approved for males 9 to 26 years of age, to protect against genital warts. HPV can be contracted from sexual contact.
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