Merck Stops Gardasil Lobbying Campaign

Under pressure from parents and medical groups Merck has announced Tuesday that they will end their lobbying campaign on state legislatures to make their new HPV vaccine mandatory for young girls. Merck has been criticized 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.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal Merck's "aggressive lobbying campaign" was designed to boost sales of the new vaccine Gardasil. Merck stated that the lobbying had become a distraction from their goals of immunizing women because of the backlash among physicians, consumer advocates, parents and even legislators. The aggressive lobbying, however, provided sales in total of $235 million through the end of 2006, according to Merck.

Many opposed the vaccine becoming mandatory in schools, though 20 states have already been considering the vaccine, many for girls not yet in the sixth grade. Some of the opposition comes from those who feel that a vaccine against a sexually transmitted disease has no place in the public school system. Most mandatory vaccines are for preventing communicable diseases, however HPV is only spread through sexual contact. Some parents feel that making this vaccine mandatory infringes upon their parental rights. U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., introduced into Congress the Parental Right to Decide Protection Act that would "prohibits federal funds from being used to implement mandatory state human-papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs."

"As an OB-GYN physician, I understand the importance of protecting Americans from sexually transmitted diseases, and I applaud the development of an HPV vaccine," Gingrey said. "But for states to mandate vaccination for young women is both unprecedented and unacceptable."

There are also many parents who are unsure that the vaccine is what Merck claims it to be. Merck is also the maker of Vioxx, a painkiller that is making appearances in courtrooms across America after many reported adverse cardiovascular problems stemming from the drug's use. Controversy over Vioxx also comes from claims that information was withheld by Merck about Vioxx. Merck has reserved $970 million to pay for its Vioxx-related legal expenses through 2007. Merck sales representatives are now being subpoenaed to court over selling Vioxx to doctors- patients are claiming the reps knew of the side effects and are partially responsible for the wrongful deaths.

Richard Haupt, executive director of medical affairs for vaccines at Merck, said "We've reevaluated our position, but certainly plan to continue education efforts in different venues, such as with legislators, health departments and coalition groups in various states." The company reaffirmed it continues to expect combined revenue this year of $2.8 billion to $3.2 billion from its array of vaccines, including ones to prevent shingles and infections with rotavirus.

The rotavirus vaccine by Merck, however, is also facing controversy as the FDA has issued a public health warning on the vaccine. Recently 28 cases of intussusception, 16 of which resulted in surgery on infants, were reported after administration of the oral vaccine.