Dubai, November, 8th, 2006:  Merck & Co.,Inc. today announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added Merck's cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil to the CDC's Vaccines for Children (VFC) contract for girls and women ages 9 to 18.

Gardasil, approved in more than 30 countries including the UAE, is the world's first and only vaccine available for the prevention of HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, which are the most common types linked to cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 75 percent of all cervical cancer cases.

Health insurers covering approximately 94 percent of privately insured lives in the US have decided to reimburse Gardasil. For others that are uninsured or unable to afford vaccines, Merck is providing Gardasil free of charge through a new initiative called the Vaccine Patient Assistance Program. This program is already available in many private physician offices in the US.

 "The addition of Gardasil to the VFC contract is a very positive step toward protecting the future health of girls and young women in the USA against cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18," said Dr. Wisam Haddadin, Franchise Manger , Gulf Region, Merck Sharpe & Dohme - Gulf. "Inclusion of Gardasil in the VFC program in the USA, coupled with private insurance coverage and Merck's Vaccine Patient Assistance Program, represent important means to facilitate broad equitable access to Gardasil."

Gardasil is a ready-to-use, three-dose vaccine, and should be administered in three injections in the upper arm or upper thigh over a six-month period. The following dosage schedule is recommended: first dose at elected date, second dose two months after the first dose, and the third dose should be administered six months after the first dose. The health care provider should inform the patient, parent or guardian that vaccination does not substitute routine cervical cancer screening. Women who receive Gardasil should continue to undergo cervical cancer screening per standard of care.

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About HPV Disease
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women; approximately 650 women die every day - 240,000 each year - with a half-million diagnoses each year.  Worldwide, 630 million people (1 in 10) are infected with HPV, and over 50 percent of sexually active women and men will acquire HPV in their lifetimes.  For most people, HPV infection goes away on its own.  In some, however, infections resulting from certain high-risk types of HPV, if unrecognized and untreated, can lead to cervical cancer.  The virus is also associated with low-grade cervical pre-cancers, abnormal Pap tests and genital warts.  It is estimated that 32 million new cases of genital warts occur each year worldwide.  Most people who have an HPV infection show no signs or symptoms.  About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc., which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first.  Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs.  The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them.  Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service.  For more information, visit www.merck.com.

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© Press Release 2006