Quadrivalent HPV vaccine now FDA-approved to prevent anal cancer

Most cases of anal cancer are diagnosed in women. HPV vaccination may prevent cancer or limit the burden of disease, the agency declares

Senior Editor

The FDA recently approved the quadrivalent formulation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Merck’s Gardasil) for prevention of anal cancer and associated precancerous lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in people 9 to 26 years old.

The quadrivalent HPV vaccine is already approved for the same age population for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer and the associated precancerous lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in females. In addition, it is approved for the prevention of genital warts caused by types 6 and 11 in both males and females.