FDA Rejects Merck's Gardasil for Women over 26

The FDA has rejected Merck's request to market its HPV vaccine Gardasil to women between the ages of 27 and 45 since the vaccine failed to provide adequate results for trial patients. The vaccine also didn't prevent cervical dysplasia or other HPV-related diseases in the 27 to 45 age range.

The company had hoped the expanded use could boost slumping sales, which dropped 12 percent to $988 million in 2010, despite the 2009 addition of men and boys ages 9 to 26 to the potential patient list. Recently, the shot was also