US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the US and Canada, announced on Wednesday that China's National Medical Products Administration has approved Gardasil (Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent [Types 6, 11, 16 and 18] Vaccine, Recombinant) for use in males aged 9 to 26.

This is the first time an HPV vaccine has been authorised for use in males in China.

Gardasil is now indicated to prevent certain HPV-related cancers and diseases, including anal cancer, in males within this age group. The vaccine was previously approved for use in females in China.

Gardasil is a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

This approval expands the use of Gardasil in China and provides broader protection against HPV-related diseases in the country.