Gardasil was the first vaccine to prevent a cancer-causing infection by targeting human papillomavirus.
The vaccine was approved in the United States in 2006. It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Types 16 and 18 cause a substantial share of cervical cancers, while types 6 and 11 cause most genital warts. Gardasil was approved for use in females first and later for males and broader age groups.
HPV infection is common and is usually cleared by the immune system, but persistent infection with high-risk types can lead to cancers of the cervix and several other anatomical sites. Vaccination works best before exposure, which is why routine vaccination is recommended during early adolescence.
Gardasil is distinct from Cervarix, which targeted HPV types 16 and 18, and from Gardasil 9, a later vaccine covering nine HPV types. None of these vaccines treats an existing HPV infection.