Drug industry studies promote expanded uses for Gardasil vaccine
August 17th, 2010 by Wendi Lewis
A recent study, funded by Merck Research Laboratories, a division of Merck & Company, which manufactures and markets the Gardasil vaccine, is touting the drug for use not only as protection against cervical cancer, but also to prevent genital warts and other low-grade cervical growths. The study uses its findings to also promote expansion of the drug’s target market to include boys and young men. Previously, the drug has been targeted at girls beginning at age 9.
According to a report on U.S. News & World Report’s Health Day, the study involved a randomized control trial of nearly 18,000 women ages 16-26, and was conducted by the department of medical microbiology at Lund University, Malmo University in Sweden. Researchers report “significant protection” against the warts and other growths in “susceptible women.”
Gardasil entered the scene in2006 as a drug intended to protect young women against the development of cervical cancer by vaccinating against four strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The vaccine is given as a series of three shots. It has an efficacy period of about five years.
However, since its introduction, Gardasil has come under fire as it has been linked to serious adverse events. Parents of young girls who receive the vaccine, or young women who received the vaccine, have reported experiencing side effects after receiving the vaccine, which they blame on the drug. Complaints range from fainting and muscle weakness to serious auto-immune deficiencies, chronic pain, Lupus, blood clots, seizures and even more than 50 reports of deaths. The makers of Gardasil deny any connection to the vaccine.
As of May 31, 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received more than 16,000 reports of adverse side effects, reported by consumers through the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The CDC has record of 53 U.S. reports of death among females who have received Gardasil. Twenty-nine of these reports have been confirmed.
Now, it appears the push is on to add boys to this list. Merck generated more than $1 billion in sales during the first year Gardasil was available. Is it any wonder the drug maker is eager to expand its customer base?