Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Vaccine May Not Prevent Cervical Cancer

Mandated for all girls in some states, HPV vaccine fails to deliver

By Greg Atwan, Newser User

Posted Apr 16, 2007 8:43 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pharma behemoth Merck is defending what it touted as a miracle cervical-cancer vaccine against charges of ineffectiveness. Merck lobbied states to mandate Gardasil for young girls—Texas and Virginia did—and got a glowing endorsement from the CDC. But new studies show that it works only to prevent sexually-transmitted HPV, a cause of cancerous cervical growths, not the cancer itself.

Merck’s unprecedented legal and media push drew backlash from doctors who insist Pap tests are the best measure against the disease, and conservatives wary of vaccinating against STDs. The outrage led to tests which Gardasil didn’t exactly ace: The vaccine performed a meager 14% better than placebo against the cancer. Merck blames the poor response on already-infected subjects.

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

Gardasil, seen here in a promotional photo (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Gardasil Commercial (modelinthecity (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Perry Swipes Back at Bachmann's HPV Allegation

Mental retardation claim has 'no basis in fact,' he says

(NEWSER) - Michele Bachmann made waves this week by claiming that the HPV vaccine can cause mental retardation, and now more critics are piling on—one of whom is Rick Perry. Perry, of course, was the target of Bachmann's original statement; she disagrees with the executive order he issued requiring Texas girls to get the vaccine. And as for her story about a mother who claims her daughter "suffered from mental retardation" after getting the vaccine, Perry says, "I think that was a statement that had no truth in it, no basis in fact," Politico reports. More»

HPV Vaccine-Maker Merck, Perry Cozier Than Claimed

Made major donations to Republican Governors Assocation

(NEWSER) - Rick Perry told Michele Bachmann in Monday night's GOP debate that he received only a $5,000 donation from HPV vaccine maker Merck, but his financial ties to the drug maker are closer than that figure suggests, the Washington Post finds. Perry's campaigns have received almost $30,000 from Merck since 2000 and the drug maker has given $380,000 to the Republican Governors Association since 2006—which Perry has chaired twice and which has contributed around $4 million to his campaigns. More»

Guys: Half of You Might Have HPV

New study could be strong case for vaccinating boys

(NEWSER) - A whopping half of men may be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), best known for causing cervical cancer, but also a cause of anal, penile, head, and neck cancers. Though the CDC currently recommends a vaccine for females, health officials have so far not recommended one for males. Researchers believe this new statistic strengthens the case for why boys should be vaccinated, Reuters reports. More»

More Young Men Get Throat Cancer, Thanks to Oral Sex

Doctors recommend HPV vaccine for boys, not just girls

(NEWSER) - Oral sex has been linked to throat cancer in baby boomers , but a rising number of cancers of the head and neck in young men is leading doctors to urge boys as well as girls to get the controversial HPV vaccine . “This kind of cancer traditionally affects males who have been smoking and drinking all their life,” says one doctor, but now “HPV cancer we are seeing in younger patients who have never smoked.” More»

Disgraced Doctors Land at Big Pharma

Hundreds of pitchmen found to have blemished records

(NEWSER) - Pharmaceutical companies say they hire highly respected doctors as their white-coat sales force, peddling their drugs to other physicians. But a Pro Publica investigation has discovered that hundreds of these pitchmen have been accused of professional misconduct, been disciplined by state boards, or lacked credentials. Medical board records in the 15 most populous states revealed that more than 250 had been sanctioned, another 40 given FDA warnings for research lapses, and 20 more hit with successful malpractice lawsuits. Some have even lost their licenses. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Vaccine May Not Prevent Cervical Cancer