Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine has been approved for men in China, it said on Wednesday, providing the U.S. drugmaker a much-needed boost in a key market where demand has been falling among women.

China’s drug regulator approved Merck & Co.’s blockbuster HPV vaccine for use by men, opening a new untapped market for the US drug giant after a rush among women to get the shot lost steam.

Merck's Gardasil vaccine, previously only available to women, has now been approved for men in China. This approval may help Merck overcome declining sales due to weak demand among women and disruptions caused by China's anti-corruption campaign.

U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co said on Wednesday its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for men has been approved by China's medical products administration, providing a much-needed boost to the company in a key market.

The recipient in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, became the first man on the Chinese mainland to receive the HPV vaccine, after US pharmaceutical giant Merck announced its quadrivalent HPV vaccine Gardasil had been approved for additional indications by the National Medical Products Administration.

WUXI Biologics Cayman will sell a vaccine facility in Ireland to Merck for about US$500 million as the Chinese company seeks to enhance its margins while continuing to navigate geopolitical tensions.