In clinical studies, Gardasil™, an investigational vaccine from Merck & Co., Inc., prevented 100 percent of high-grade cervical pre-cancers and non-invasive cervical cancers associated with some types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

More than 25,000 people in 33 countries are participating in the ongoing Phase 3 of the study, according to Merck & Co. The company anticipates submitting the vaccine to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2005.

According to the company, cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women, causing some 290,000 deaths each year.

For more information, visit www.merck.com.