WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AFX) - Drug maker Merck & Co. said Friday that a European advisory panel recommended regulators approve its Gardisil vaccine aimed at preventing HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that is linked to cervical cancer.
In June, the Food and Drug Administration licensed the vaccine for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26.
In Europe, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended that the European Commission approve Gardasil for girls and women ages 9 to 26 for the prevention of cervical cancer, abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix and genital warts.
If approved, Merck plans to sell the vaccine in Europe through Sanofi Pasteur MSD, its joint venture with Sanofi Pasteur, Sanofi-Aventis SA's vaccine business.
Merck shares fell 2 cents to $41.10 in after-hours activity, after rising 14 cents to close at $41.12 on the NEW York Stock Exchange. American depositary shares of Sanofi-Aventis rose 12 cents to close at $47.28 on the NYSE.
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