Merck's Clark Responds to NYT Questioning of Gardasil

From The New York Times letters to the editor. The head of Merck responds to criticism of Gardasil, the billion dollar revenue generator recently criticized in both the media and professional journals, including NEJM.

Re “Drug Makers’ Push Leads to Vaccines’ Fast Rise” (front page, Aug. 20):

Gardasil, Merck’s vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, has received nearly universal support from medical associations, regulatory bodies and policy-making groups because the vaccine is highly effective to help prevent cervical disease, including cancer. Indeed, “A Necessary Vaccine,” your Feb. 26, 2007, editorial, endorsed a vaccination mandate.

We believe that your news article minimizes the risks of HPV to American women.

The truth is that even 50 years after the advent of Pap testing, 10 women a day are dying of cervical cancer in the United States, as are 500 women around the world. Given these numbers, it is difficult to understand why you did not quote even one cervical cancer survivor, widower or motherless child.

The combination of screening and this first-of-its-kind vaccine gives doctors and the public health community the necessary tools to reduce the burden of cervical cancer even further in the United States and throughout the world. To help make this happen, Merck has committed to provide Gardasil to developing-world women at prices from which Merck will not profit.

We take seriously our responsibility to develop and market medicines and vaccines that have saved and will save millions of lives, and that is what we will continue to do.

Richard T. Clark
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive, Merck & Co.
Whitehouse Station, N.J., Aug. 20, 2008

Comments

[C. Professional]

This Gardasil vaccine should be incinerated,not to be given to anyone or sent to third world countries.Merck is an international killing machine.

[Not an MD]

Sorry, Effin, but I will not let your inflammatory words bother me. I do suppose, however, that my prior post was worded with much too much civility for your liking. Oh, well, live and learn. Have a nice day, or perhaps a nice "effin" day!!! : )

[Read an Effin Book!]

I see. "Not an MD" lives in "AMERICA" which is not subject to political, historical, or natural laws that seem to occur in surprisingly predictable ways in every other country on the planet. How's the no gravity thing workin' out for y'all? Wow. Really. Wow.

[Not an MD]

To Semaxtics and Read a Book!,
I am genuinely happy for you that you have the freedom to choose when it comes to medical procedures, including vaccinations, in your country. That should be your inherent right as human beings. Please note, however, that if medicine becomes socialized in the U.S., it will not likely be the human-friendly type you have in Canada, where your rights are protected, but a complete sell-out of our rights in America to make any healthcare decisions, no matter how big or small, especially concerning cancer care, psychiatric care and vaccinations. Most of our American politicians have received enormous contributions from Pharma, and we are quickly arriving at the point of no return regarding our medical choice freedoms. Socialization of medicine, here in the U.S., would be a disaster of epic proportions. If it happens, I may soon become a Canuck myself. Kindly note that some of us in America, many of us at this very website, are painfully aware of what is going on, and it is a very sore spot for us. By criticizing socialized medicine, we are not criticizing Canadian medicine, but what we expect our potential American brand of socialized medicine to likely be.

[samaxtics]

Another Canuck here. Imagine this Dan, “universal” healthcare and yet people are treated as individuals with freedoms! As “Read A Book!” stated under the protection of our Constitution we cannot be forced to vaccinate because vaccination is a medical procedure and you cannot force someone to undergo a medical procedure. Who would have thought “socialists” to be so enlightened? Think about this Dan- some babies vaccinated without parental consent, parents in some states forced to either vaccinate or homeschool, CPS called on parents who don’t want to vaccinate- is that what you call a free society? Why don’t you run along to Blockbuster and rent yourself a copy of “Sicko” so you can get a clue about "socialized" medicine.

[C.S.]

Oh, and this is a garbage vaccine. I wouldn't give this to my children in a million years. The only people who die of cervical cancer are those who never get pap smears and never go to the doctor and are quite ill, and they die in their 40's or 50's after having a long and usually unhealthy life and lifestyle. It's not a shot for sweet, innocent, healthy 11 year old girls. This is curable if you take care of yourself.

And I also had HPV, I'm not being judgemental. It cleared on it's own as well. I get yearly pap smears.

[C.S.]

Oh, and this is a garbage vaccine. I wouldn't give this to my children in a million years. The only people who die of cervical cancer are those who never get pap smears and never go to the doctor and are quite ill, and they die in their 40's or 50's after having a long and usually unhealthy life and lifestyle. It's not a shot for sweet, innocent, healthy 11 year old girls. This is curable if you take care of yourself.

And I also had HPV, I'm not being judgemental. It cleared on it's own as well. I get yearly pap smears.

[C.S.]

I've been living in Europe for the past few years, have free health care and no one is pressuring me to vaccinate my children. In fact their doctor said in the middle of a MEASLES outbreak that measles is NOT VERY SERIOUS and we could hold off on that shot if we want to. I meet people all the time who have their children on a slow or no schedule.

[Read a Book!]

Ooh the old mantra that socialism is so bad ie "socialized medicine". Your comments reveal your ignorance, previous poster. I live in Canada, which has more of a socialized medicine system than many countries and guess what? I am guaranteed in the Constitution the freedom to refuse vaccinations. Where's your guarantees land of the free? I see state after state pushing for mandatory vaccinations. Wake up and look beyond your own border and your tired, ignorant, self-centered rhetoric and lies.

[Josh]

Dan, that was brilliant. I think I'll vote for that other guy who isn't Obama now, and cease "avoiding vaccines" or whatever so I won't be "risking the life of my children." Just because your little admonishment really did it for me... I don't know, you just have an eloquence with words.

[Garbo]

Ummm...Dan? Get a grip. Considering that the current republican administration broke a campaign promise to remove mercury from vaccines, has done diddly squat about the situation, and has abetted the coverup that's been going on since at least 2001 when they took office, considering that former majority leader Bill Frist (R-PhRMA) is the one who snuck Pharma vaccine immunity into a Homeland Security bill, and the former commerce committee chair (Barton R-PhRMA) routinely blocked autism research funding by refusing to let bills come to the floor for a vote, I'm not particularly inclined to give them another chance.

As it stands, states like NJ are already threatening to jail parents for refusing vaccines. NY tried it to pass similar legislation this year, spurred by lobbyists with PhRMA connections, and got beaten down by the autism community. This travesty is happening already, but it is not because of socialism, as you call it, but because we are living in a corporate oligarchy where politicians and big business are in cahoots and the rest of us are screwed.

[Dan]

"why should they be allowed to profit from ANY vaccine?" Be sure to vote for Obama, since his presidency will likely be a death blow to the healthcare industry and a major leap toward socialism. I hope you understand that in a socialist world, you would not have the option of not vaccinating. At least under a free society you do have the option of risking the life of your children by avoiding vaccinations.

[Flipper008]

Well, here's another name to add on the Merck employee's list who should wake up behind bars tomorrow morning!

''...is highly effective to help prevent cervical disease, including cancer.''

How long will these deceptions and lies be tolerated ? The FDA and Merck should be dismantled for crimes against humanity. Keep what's good and find another name.

[Craig Willoughby]

Notice how this idiot does nothing to address the concerns. He does nothing to even acknowledge them. Instead, he gives the good ol' Church of the Immaculate Vaccination mantra/prayer; "But they SAVE LIVES."

This guy is the very definition of obtuse.

[Angela Warner]

I am infuriated right now!!!! Someone tell him to shut the F*%# UP!!!

I'll broadcast my own experience at this point thank you very much... In 1996 I was diagnosed with dysplaisa (SP? sorry don't care right now) (May). By July it had progressed to CIN-3 - last stage before cancer. It was caused by HPV. Well guess what - because of my yearly pap it was caught and the situation remedied. 12 years later I have had NO abnormal paps, and just this year my NP tested for HPV to see if it had cleared. GUESS WHAT??? No more HPV! And damn... I certainly seem to be alive sitting here typing and all.

The most important prevention is a yearly pap - maybe bi-yearly if you are at risk.

I would NEVER consider giving this vaccine to my daughters. NEVER. You would have to kill me first!

As I said when this vaccine first went on the market... It is going to give young women a false sense of security and will reduce the rates of women getting their yearly check up. That is when we will unfortunately see a rise in cervical cancer and related death.

Oh... and how kind of them to provide this to women in developing countries from which they will not profit. If this and other vaccines are so life saving and critical to public health - why should they be allowed to profit from ANY vaccines????

Richard Clark - please go find a cave some where and stay there.

OK... I feel better now. My blood pressure is back to normal! :D