Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD) is a joint venture between Sanofi Aventis and Merck which each owns half the company. SPMSD is a company dedicated to supplying the most up to date range of vaccines to meet the health needs of everyone. To do this they develop and make available innovative vaccines. Vaccines have played a vital role in protecting and saving the lives of millions of adults and children around the world. SPMSD provides vaccines for three categories of disease for childhood disease, vaccines for adults at risk of certain diseases and vaccines for overseas travel.

The company has also developed Gardisil, a vaccine against types of human papollomavirus (HPV) known to cause cervical cancer.

Products

As well as vaccines for childhood diseases, vaccines for adults at risk of certain diseases and for overseas travel, SPMSD's most talked about product is Gardisil.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus; in 2005 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 20 million people in the US had the virus. There are many different types of HPV, some cause no harm: others can cause diseases of the genital area. For most people, the virus goes away on its own, when the virus does not go away, it can develop into cervical cancer, pre cancerous lesions, or genital warts depending on the HPV type.

Gardisil is the only cervical cancer vaccine for girls and young women between 9-26 years old. Gardisil works when given before a girl has contact with HPV types 6,11,16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases. It is given as 3 injections over 6 months.

www.spmsd.co.uk

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