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HPV Vaccine Manufacturing Increases to Meet Growing Global Demand

April 4, 2022 • 12:16 pm CDT
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(Precision Vaccinations News)

New Jersey-based Merck today reaffirmed its commitment to enable broad equitable access to its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. The company has invested significantly in vaccine manufacturing and recently expanded its facility in Elkton, VA, to support this commitment.

Merck expects the supply of its HPV vaccines to double between 2020-2023 as the company continues to expand capacity at existing facilities and as new facilities come online.

Merck previously committed to expand production capacity at existing manufacturing facilities and build new facilities to address the unprecedented global demand for its HPV vaccines.

"As we continue to increase production of our HPV vaccines, we are prioritizing access in countries with a high burden of disease, including countries eligible for support from Gavi and UNICEF," commented Dr. Priya Agrawal, global lead for HPV Vaccines at Merck, in a press statement issued on April 4, 2022.

"Through our long-term agreement with UNICEF, we plan to provide 91.5 million doses of our HPV vaccines in Gavi-supported countries from 2021-2025."

"And we have offered additional doses beyond that agreement as needed to help meet growing demand."

Merck's leading U.S. FDA Approved HPV vaccine, GARDASIL 9, is indicated for:

  • females 9 through 45 years of age for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, oropharyngeal, and other head and neck cancers caused by HPV Types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; and genital warts caused by HPV Types 6 and 11,
  • males 9 through 45 years of age for the prevention of anal, oropharyngeal, and other head and neck cancers caused by HPV Types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; anal precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; and genital warts caused by HPV Types 6 and 11.

The oropharyngeal and head and neck cancer indication is approved under accelerated approval based on effectiveness in preventing HPV-related anogenital disease.

According to Merck, continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Furthermore, GARDASIL 9 vaccination does not eliminate the necessity for vaccine recipients to undergo screening for cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, oropharyngeal, and other head and neck cancers as recommended by a health care provider.

Previous HPV vaccines news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/HPV.

Note: The press release was edited for clarity and manually curated for mobile readers.

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