FDA panel won’t vote on lowering Gardasil dose, says Jefferies

Jefferies says the draft agenda for the upcoming June 25-26 FDA Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting is out and includes discussion on COVID-19, RSV Vaccines, influenza vaccines, chikungunya vaccines, anthrax Vaccines and MMRV vaccines. The list does not include HPV vaccines, meaning the committee likely won’t vote on lowering Merck’s (MRK) Gardasil doses down to 1-2 doses versus 2-3 in certain age groups, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Jefferies believes there were concerns on Gardasil after the last ACIP meeting, where the HPV work group proposed lowering current dosing recommendations down to 1-2 doses for certain age groups. Merck shares are up 1%, or $1.15, to $79.43 in afternoon trading. Jefferies has a Buy rating on the stock with a $138 price target