The FDA has granted accelerated approval to Merck’s Gardasil 9 (human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine, recombinant) to prevent head and neck cancers caused by seven types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

The agency said that continued approval for the indication will depend on the results of a confirmatory trial, which is currently underway.

Gardasil 9 has been approved to prevent a variety of cancers, including cervical and anal, caused by various HPV types.