Talk:Gardasil
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[edit] Invention of HPV VLPs
As stated in the helpful review article, "Who Invented the VLP Cervical Cancer Vaccines?" (PMID 16595773), the development of the current virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines was an incremental process involving research in several different research groups. For example, Ian Frazer (note Z not S) and colleagues' first report concerning VLP production concluded that the major capsid protein L1 cannot self-assemble to form VLPs (see abstract of PMID 1656586). This major error was corrected by other groups who were ultimately awarded patents for the VLP technologies. Attributing the invention of the vaccine exclusively to Ian Frazer is at best a half-truth and clearly isn't NPOV. Retroid 20:57, 4 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Merge into "HPV Vaccine"?
Is there a need to have a separate article for each brand of a medicinal product? If we have an article for every brand of drug on the market, the amount of articles will be tremendous. Wouldn't it make more sense to merge Gardasil and the other brand of HPV vaccine, Cervarix, into the article HPV Vaccine? Jkpjkp 18:24, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
While I can appreciate not wanting a page for all medicines on the market, it is possible that people who want to find information will only know the name of the medicine. If these articles are merged, will a search bring people to the appropriate page? 71.233.8.90 21:50, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
It's also important to note that unlike, say, ibuprofen, for which the generic is basically identical to brands like Advil, Cervarix and Gardasil are actually different chemical compounds (and Gardasil protects against strains of HPV that Cervarix does not), so they're not just different brands of the same chemical. 67.180.143.202 08:17, 16 December 2006 (UTC)
I believe since Gardasil is so new, it should for the time being kept as a seperate listing because of the frequency of people that should be looking for specifically it, which is how i got to this page. I like the idea of every drug having their own page because as a medical professional I'm literally combing through those pages all day. Gardasil also should be kept in its own listing because of the perceived use and success rate expected from the drug, and it also will allow more thorough information to be listed on the single drug, like for example I need to innoculate a patient with the drug and found the innoculation regimen on Wikipedia, so yes I advocate leaving the article alone as well... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.17.18.2 (talk • contribs).
[edit] Only available to women
I understand this vaccine is new, but why is it restricted to young girls?? I am a young bisexual male at increased risk for HPV yet no doctor or clinic will administer the vaccine to me.
I hope it does not become discontinued like the Lyme disease vaccine (due to poor sales). Restricting a vaccine against a virus that infects 40 percent of the population makes absolutely no sense. This is a terrible way to introduce it to the market. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Tmthymllgn (talk • contribs) 6:32, 30 November 2006 (UTC).
To answer the question above, currently its use is retricted to adolescent women and young adults because that was the study group formed by the FDA at the time of the drug's clinical trials. I think in the long run Doctors will realize the drug is also beneficial to patients of both genders and upwards of 50 years of age who believe they may have recently contracted Genital Herpes, but as a full blown cure it probably will not have a similar therapeutic effect if the patient has been living with Herpes for some time. Unfortunately, the drug is restricted solely due to the study groups formed and evaluated by the FDA, and like most drugs will require time before a larger market is opened to it.
If it helps, this CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/02/02/cancer.vaccine.ap/index.html) mentions that Merck is currently testing the vaccine on "older women and boys." I think that the beginning, it seems like it was just going to be something to prevent cervical cancer, and therefore they only tested on women. But I'm sure have now realized that since HPV can cause genital warts in both sexes, that it would be a good idea to get the vaccine to work for everyone. Alabasterchinchilla 00:03, 3 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Adverse affects
Why isn't there any mention of the reports filed involving seizures (some resulting in injury) following the vaccination? I would consider that an adverse reaction. There are two reports of Guillain-Barre Syndrome possibly related to the vaccine, neurological affects like temporary loss of vision, dizziness, and slurred speech. There are also reports about joint pains and fevers. None of this is mentioned. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 83.108.244.64 (talk) 20:34, 9 February 2007 (UTC).
- I added links to the FDA's product information and APIC's meeting on Gardasil. These are probably the most authoritative sources on adverse effects available now. You can summarize their findings in the article, if you'd like. --VAcharon 05:05, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Monopoly and Parental Concerns
I think we could stand to have a second section on the two controversies involved with this vaccine. The first is that parents object to its use on the idea that it will make their daughters more promiscuous. The second, mentioned in passing, is that MERCK currently has a monopoly on the vaccine and is lobbying for the states to make it mandatory. Many of the scientists who've said good things about the vaccine had research funded by MERCK. For all that I believe the parents are mistaken and the scientists telling the truth, it could stand a mention.
This article from the Washington Post might make a good source. It also adds Virginia to the list of states contemplating a requirement. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/03/AR2007030301356.html Darkfrog24 17:33, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Michigan not the first state to require vaccinations
This passage was misleading:
- Legislation has been introduced in the state of Michigan to make Gardasil mandatory. If passed, this would make it the first state to require that its school children be vaccinated. diff from 7 September 2006
It implies that no other state has any vaccination requirements. I think it's common knowledge that many (if not most) U.S. states require immunizations against measels, mumps, rubella, etc.
I wonder how an error like this can stay undetected in an encyclopedia article so long (6 months).
I added changed it to say, "vaccinated against cervical cancer". [1] --Uncle Ed 13:58, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
-
- "Against HPV" seems to be implied by the context. However, it doesn't hurt to be clearer. Darkfrog24 16:12, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Texas and the cervical cancer vaccination
Schlafly wrote:
- Governor Perry issued an Executive Order requiring young girls to receive Merck's HPV vaccine in order to enter the sixth grade. [2]
Are there any other sources for this? --Uncle Ed 13:58, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Source Needed
"It is worth mentioning that Rick Perry's former Chief of Staff is currently the head of Merck's Texas lobbying team, and that Perry recieved $6000 in campaign contributions from Merck. The high cost of Gardasil is to offset losses due to Vioxx settlements and an official-sounding recommendation by Perry would lead many to believe that vaccination in Texas is mandatory, thus creating a constant pool of customers for Merck and allowing them to regain their losses by Gardasil sales in Texas alone. Being a patent protected vaccine, Merck is Gardasil's sole producer."
An anonymous user left this. It's good stuff, but we need a source. I could see why Merck would raise Gardasil's price to offset Vioxx losses, but without a source it sounds like speculation. The same goes for the idea that a rec from Perry would make people think the vaccination was mandatory (which I'm fairly confident it is). And "patent-protected" needs a hyphen. Darkfrog24 21:33, 21 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Side Effects
While mentioning that we don't know the side effects of Gardasil is an excellent idea, the idea that these side effects would neccessarily affect all these women's descendants is a little excessive for a contribution with no source. Also, considering that the vaccine wouldn't alter these girls' ova, I can say with some confidence that it isn't true. I'll make some changes. Darkfrog24 00:25, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
