China Approves New Homegrown HPV Shot in Fresh Blow to Merck

A Chinese drug regulator approved a new homegrown vaccine against cervical cancer, fueling further competition against Merck & Co Ltd.’s blockbuster shot Gardasil in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.

The National Medical Products Administration approved the vaccine, Cecolin 9, developed by Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., state news agency Xinhua reported. It was tested on 11,000 healthy volunteers aged nine to 45, showing strong protection against infections, according to the state media.

The latest approval of a new locally developed shot is a fresh blow to Merck as the firm’s Gardasil 9 will no longer be ...