Chinese regulators approve Merck’s HPV vaccine for males

BEIJING: US drugmaker Merck & Co. (MRK.N) said on Wednesday its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for men has been approved by China’s medical products administration, providing a much-needed boost to the company in a key market.

In October, Merck said weak sales in China of its Gardasil vaccine, used to prevent HPV, were likely to continue into 2025 amid weak demand among women.

China’s drug regulator granted approval for the vaccine to now be used for males aged 9-26 years, according to a Merck statement on Chinese social media.

Gardasil has been one of Merck’s top growth drivers aside from the blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda, and much of its international growth has come from China.

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