By Peter Loftus Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES A new study suggests that giving Merck & Co.'s (MRK) cervical-cancer vaccine Gardasil to women through their mid-20s may not be worth the price, despite U.S. recommendations that this age group receive the costly shot. The study, published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine, comes as Merck already is having difficulty persuading college-age and older women to get the vaccine, which was introduced in 2006 and costs about $360 for a three-dose regimen. This has contributed to a slowdown in Gardasil sales, casting a cloud on Merck's financial outlook. Questions surrounding Gardasil's cost-effectiveness also could make for tougher market conditions for GlaxoSmithKline PLC's (GSK) Cervarix, a cervical-cancer vaccine that is available outside the U.S. and is under review...
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