Merck to Donate 3 Million Doses of Cervical Cancer Vaccine to Third World Nations

Merck & Co., Inc. has committed to donate at least 3 million doses of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18) recombinant vaccine (Gardasil), the cervical cancer vaccine, for use in demonstration projects in lowest-income nations throughout the world. The program, part of Merck's comprehensive approach to bringing newer vaccines to the developing world, was announced recently as Merck's commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative.

"By donating 3 million doses of Gardasil over the next 5 years, we are committing to the vaccination of 1 million females against cervical cancer, a disease that takes the lives of nearly 250,000 women each year," said Margaret G. McGlynn, president, Merck Vaccines and Infectious Disease. "Our company is fully committed to making Gardasil available to those who need it, and we will continue to work with our partners in the international community to develop sustainable solutions to bring Gardasil and other vaccines to the developing world."

Merck is pursuing a systematic approach to the global introduction of two of its vaccines, the live, oral pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) and the HPV vaccine, and is committed to making both vaccines available to developing world nations at dramatically lower prices at which Merck will not profit.