FDA approves vaccine for anal cancer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved a vaccine to prevent anal cancer caused by the human papilloma virus.

The vaccine Gardisil is approved for children and young adults 9 to 26 years of age, the FDA said in a release Wednesday.

Gardasil, made by Merck, is already approved for the same age population for the prevention of cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer, and the associated precancerous lesions caused by HPV in women.

It is also approved for the prevention of genital warts caused by certain types of HPV in both men and women.

"Treatment for anal cancer is challenging; the use of Gardasil as a method of prevention is important as it may result in fewer diagnoses and the subsequent surgery, radiation or chemotherapy that individuals need to endure," Dr. Karen Midthun, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in the FDA statement.

Although anal cancer is uncommon in the general population, the incidence is increasing and HPV is associated with approximately 90 percent of anal cancer, the FDA said.