Merck & Co.'s Gardasil effective in reducing HPV, genital warts in men in late-stage trial

Results from a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that Merck & Co.'s Gardasil is effective against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6- and 11- related genital warts in males aged 16 through 26. "Not only can vaccination of boys and men bolster and expedite health benefits in girls and women…but there is now clear evidence that boys and men themselves can benefit directly," wrote Jane Kim of Harvard School of Public Health in an accompanying editorial.
In the study, which enrolled 4065 sexually active teenagers and young men, data showed that genital lesions developed in 36 subjects given the Gardasil vaccine, compared with 89 who received a placebo. When researchers included only subjects who weren’t infected at the start of the study and received all three doses of the vaccine, then the treatment prevented 90 percent of warts.
Gardasil generated sales of $767.6 million in the first three quarters of 2010.
Reference Articles
Merck’s Gardasil prevents HPV infection, genital warts in men - (Bloomberg)
HPV vaccine effective in men - (CNN Health)
Gardasil vaccine guards against HPV in boys - (MSN)
New England Journal of Medicine publishes efficacy and safety data for Gardasil in males - (Merck)
**Published in "First Word"