Gardasil

Gardasil (Merck & Co.), also known as Gardisil or Silgard, is a vaccine to prevent certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. HPV types 16 and 18 currently cause about 70% of cervical, 26% of head and neck and many vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancer cases. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts cases. Gardasil can only prevent, not treat, HPV infections, so to be effective it must be ... more

Gardasil (Merck & Co.), also known as Gardisil or Silgard, is a vaccine to prevent certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. HPV types 16 and 18 currently cause about 70% of cervical, 26% of head and neck and many vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancer cases. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts cases. Gardasil can only prevent, not treat, HPV infections, so to be effective it must be given before HPV infection occurs. HPV is sexually transmitted. HPV-16 has a 60% per-couple transmission rate. The US Federal Drug Administration recommends vaccination before adolescence and potential sexual activity. The research that led to the development of the vaccine began in the 1980s by groups at the University of Rochester, Georgetown University, and the US National Cancer Institute. In 1991 Australian investigators at the University of Queensland found a way to form non-infectious virus-like particles (VLP), which could also... less