CDC purchases 10 million doses of Merck's Gardasil

ATLANTA The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has purchased 10 million doses of Merck’s human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil, as part of its latest round of acquisitions under its Vaccines for Children program. The agency is buying the same amount as it did last year.

Merck is the only Food and Drug Administration approved manufacturer of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine, meaning the drug is approved to treat four different strains of the virus, which is part of the guidelines of the drug being used by the FDA as compared to GlaxoSmithKline’s version of the drug, Cervaix, which is approved against only two strains.

The anticipated performance period of the contract starts Apr. 1 and continues through Mar. 31, 2009.