Virtually all children will experience rotavirus. Its symptoms include fever, vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to life-threatening dehydration. Worldwide, rotavirus takes the lives of nearly 500,000 children annually. In the United States each year, as many as 250,000 children under five years of age are taken to emergency rooms as a result of rotavirus.
Merck's new vaccine, RotaTeq, has the potential to substantially reduce the impact of rotavirus disease. In a clinical study of nearly 70,000 infants, RotaTeq prevented
98 percent of the severe cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by strains targeted by the vaccine.
With FDA approval obtained in February 2006, Merck is committed to bringing the benefits of RotaTeq to children worldwide. Merck has filed for licenses for RotaTeq in more than 50 countries and plans to initiate clinical studies this year to evaluate the use of RotaTeq in Africa and Asia.
Of 15 major childhood diseases, Merck makes vaccines to protect against eight of them. With RotaTeq, Merck continues our tradition of developing novel vaccines that meet patient needs.
