Forced Poisoning for Profit

Merck Suspends Lobbying For HPV Vaccine
Last Edited: Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007, 6:08 PM EST
Created: Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007, 5:42 PM EST
Credit: MyFox
By LINDA A.
JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

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TRENTON, N.J. -- Merck & Co. is immediately suspending its lobbying campaign to persuade state legislatures to mandate that adolescent girls get the company's new vaccine against cervical cancer as a requirement for school attendance, the company said late Tuesday.


The drugmaker had been criticized by parents and doctors' groups for quietly funding the campaign via a third party to require 11- and 12-year-old girls get the three-dose vaccine in order to attend school.


Some had objected because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted disease, human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Vaccines mandated for school attendance usually are for diseases easily spread through casual contact.


"Our goal is about cervical cancer prevention and we want to reach as many females as possible with Gardasil," Dr. Richard M. Haupt, Merck's medical director for vaccines, told The Associated Press.


"We're concerned that our role in supporting school requirements is a distraction from that goal, and as such have suspended our lobbying efforts," Haupt said, adding the company will continue providing information about the vaccine if requested by government officials.


Merck launched Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, in June.


Sales totaled $255 million through the end of 2006, according to Merck.


Last month, The Associated Press reported that Merck was channeling money for its state-mandate campaign through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators across the country.


Conservative groups opposed the campaign, saying it would encourage premarital sex, and parents' rights groups said it interfered with their control over their children.


Even two of the prominent medical groups that supported broad use of the vaccine, the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Family Practitioners, questioned Merck's timing, Haupt said Tuesday.


"They, along with some other folks in the public health community, believe there needs to be more time," he said, to ensure government funding for the vaccine for uninsured girls is in place and that families and government officials have enough information about it.


Legislatures in roughly 20 states have introduced measures that would mandate girls have the vaccine to attend school, but none has passed so far. However, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Feb. 2 issued an executive order requiring that schoolgirls get the vaccinations, triggering protests from lawmakers in that state.


The vaccine also is controversial because it is the most expensive ever -- $360 for the three doses required over a six-month stretch. Because of that cost and what pediatricians and gynecologists say is in adequate reimbursement by insurers, many are choosing not to stock the vaccine or requiring surcharges to administer it, adding to parents' difficulties.


Merck shares were down in after-hours trading on the New York Stock Exchange, falling 35 cents to $44.15, after rising 22 cents in regular trading to close at $44.50.


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