Merck pairs up with Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm

NEW YORK (AP) - Merck and Co. says it will team up with Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm to market vaccines and potentially other drugs.

Merck will form a joint venture with Sinopharm, cooperating on vaccines for diseases like human papillomavirus in China. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a sexually transmitted disease that causes most cases of cervical cancer. Merck makes Gardasil, one of two vaccines approved to prevent HPV.

The companies will discuss teaming up to sell Merck's drugs in the country, Merck says. The companies did not disclose terms of their agreement.

Merck is based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., and is the world's second-largest drugmaker by revenue. It says doing more business in emerging pharmaceutical markets like China is a key part of its strategy.