HPV Vaccine Sales Increased 29%

With Merck & Co. Inc.'s recent announcement, health leaders can expect a decrease in human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers in the coming years.

On February 1, 2024, Merck reported that GARDASIL / GARDASIL 9 HPV vaccine sales increased by at least 29% to reach $8.9 billion. This sales growth was due to strong global demand, particularly in China, and public-sector vaccine buying patterns in the U.S.

Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer of Merck, commented in a press release, "We also made investments of approximately $30 billion in research and development in our ongoing effort to discover, develop, and collaborate to propel the next generation of impactful innovations."

According to the U.S. CDC, getting an HPV vaccine for your child is the best way to protect them against certain types of cancer later in life.

Sexually transmitted cancers usually take years to develop after a person gets HPV. There is no way to know who will develop cancer or other health problems from HPV.

HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women, penis in men, and anus and throat in both men and women, says the CDC.

While Merck's GARDASIL 9® vaccine is a global market leader in 2024, approved vaccines are currently produced in India and China, with several next-generation vaccine candidates in development to address these vaccine-preventable cancers.