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Merck vaccine shown to block cervical cancer, genital warts
An enhanced version of an experimental vaccine against human papillomavirus was 90% effective in blocking four types of the sexually transmitted disease, according to a study published Wednesday. Merck's Gardasil was designed to block HPV types 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, responsible for about 90% of genital wart cases.
"It's the first time we show efficacy for the most broad-coverage vaccine in development," says Eliav Barr, who runs Merck's HPV vaccine development program. Since most HPV infections clear on their own, vaccine developers are focusing on those types that cause persistent or long-term infection, said Barr.
An enhanced version of an experimental vaccine against human papillomavirus was 90% effective in blocking four types of the sexually transmitted disease, according to a study published Wednesday. Merck's Gardasil was designed to block HPV types 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, responsible for about 90% of genital wart cases.
"It's the first time we show efficacy for the most broad-coverage vaccine in development," says Eliav Barr, who runs Merck's HPV vaccine development program. Since most HPV infections clear on their own, vaccine developers are focusing on those types that cause persistent or long-term infection, said Barr.
My sister was working on that.
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