Company Watch

Merck, ICMR collaborate on HPV vaccine trials

Our News Bureau - Mumbai

MSD India and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have collaborated to study Merck's investigational cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil designed to protect against quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, recombinant vaccine in the Indian population.

The agreement spans a range of activities, starting with the design of study to assess the use of Gardasil in the Indian population. In addition to assistance to study design, Merck will supply Gardasil for use in the study. On completion of the study, the partners will assess the role of HPV vaccine on the population of India and identify ways of providing access to the vaccine.

According to Leonard Tauro, MD, MSD India, Merck has already filed with the USFDA to launch the vaccine in the US market and is to apply to EU region soon. "Our aim is to work closely with the private player and operationalise the vaccine. If successful, the model can be replicated in developing countries as well," said Dr N K Ganguly, Director-General of ICMR. "We are in talks with other players including the Bill Gates Foundation to get involved in the process," he said. Modalities like selection of population and region will be worked out soon, informed Ganguly.