MRK · 10-Q · 2026Q2 · Full report

Single-Dose HPV Vaccine Research

Merck & Co., Inc. · 2026-08-07 · Importance 58 · Surprise 42

Merck is collaborating with the U.S. National Cancer Institute and Agencia Costarricense de Investigaciones Biomédicas to extend the Costa Rica ESCUDDO trial evaluating a single HPV vaccine dose in females ages 12 to 16. The five-year extension is intended to provide longer-term data on protection against persistent HPV 16 and 18 infection and disease endpoints. Merck will not proceed with proposed single-dose V503, Gardasil 9 trials because operationally feasible designs meeting FDA and EMA evidentiary standards could not be developed.