Merck & Co. confirmed Japanese regulatory approval for its quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil® together with the oral anticancer drug Zolinza® (vorinostat) and the antibacterial Cubicin® (daptomycin for injection).
In Japan Zolinza has been approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and will be distributed in Japan by Taiho Pharmaceutical. Cubicin is approved for the treatment of MRSA infections. Merck’s MSD subsidiary licensed Japanese rights to Cubicin from Cubist Pharmaceuticals in 2007.
Gardasil achieved global sales of $214 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $988 million during 2010.