China Approves Gardasil®9 for Males, Expanding HPV Prevention Efforts

MSD, a global pharmaceutical company based in the United States, announced that China's National Medical Products Administration has approved new uses for its nine-valent HPV vaccine, Gardasil®9. This approval extends the vaccine's use to males aged 16 to 26.

This marks a significant step, making Gardasil®9 the first and only nine-valent HPV vaccine approved for both males and females in China. This represents a new phase in the fight against HPV-related cancers and diseases, focusing on gender-neutral prevention.

Gardasil®9 targets nine HPV types. The new approval allows the vaccine to be used in males to prevent anal cancer, genital warts, and certain precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by specific HPV types.

Anna Van Acker, a senior vice-president of MSD and president of MSD in China, highlighted the company's commitment to providing health solutions for the Chinese population. She noted the previous approvals for extending the age range to 9 to 45 years old and the two-dose regimen for those aged 9 to 14.

Van Acker also emphasized the government's dedication to eliminating cervical cancer, increasing vaccine accessibility, and offering diverse health options. She expressed the hope that the new indication would protect more individuals, families, communities, and ultimately, society as a whole from HPV-related diseases.

HPV vaccines are currently the only vaccines proven effective in preventing cancers globally. By the end of 2024, over 300 million doses of Gardasil®9 had been administered worldwide. In China alone, over 33 million women have been vaccinated.

HPV infection remains a major public health concern globally. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 80 percent of men and women will be infected with at least one HPV type during their lifetime.