Posted on 06/23/2006 7:21:19 AM PDT by veronica
An Israeli-born doctor stands at the head of team from pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc. who announced this week the FDA approval of the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer
Senior director of Clinical Research, Merck Research Laboratories Dr. Eliav Barr, originally from Haifa, said about bout the genetically engineered vaccine Gardasil, "This is the first time we have been able to state that administration of the vaccine is going to have an effect on cervical cancer."
In the United States, almost 10,000 women develop cervical cancer each year, leading to 3,000 deaths. In the developing world, the problem is far worse, probably because women are less likely to get screenings that can catch unusual growths before they become cancerous. Worldwide, cervical cancer kills 300,000 women a year.
Almost all the cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with the human papilloma virus, or HPV, which causes normal cells to multiply out of control. Some strains of HPV lead to cancer (two strains account for 70% of cervical cancers), and others cause genital warts.
Because cervical cancer does not occur in women who have not contracted HPV, Merck, under Barr's guidance, has developed what is essentially the world's first cancer vaccine.
Public health experts called the Gardasil vaccine a major advance against the disease. "This vaccine is a significant advance in the protection of women's health in that it strikes at the infections that are the root cause of many cervical cancers," acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach told Reuters.
Given in three doses over six months, Gardasil targets four HPV types believed to cause more than 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts. The vaccine was approved for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26, Merck said.
Barr started his medical career as a cardiologist. So it was quite a shift in the mid-1990s when his employer, Merck, asked Barr to join a team that was developing an HPV vaccine.
"I had to go look up what HPV meant," Barr, 42, told The Intelligencer. "This is about as far as you can get from medicine."
Barr said he's overwhelmed by the feeling that he's helped develop something that will save millions of lives.
"It's very difficult to describe," Barr said. "One gets very emotional. It's really a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing."
The biggest challenge for Gardasil comes because of the target market: adolescent girls. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, and some 20 million American men and women have it. To prevent women from getting cervical cancer, women must be inoculated before they become sexually active. But for some parents and religious groups, that might be a touchy question.
Merck's Barr says that won't be a problem. "You have to understand what's at stake here," he told Forbes. "Regardless of your background, as a parent, you want to be able to protect your child against cancer."
TLLOM never said that. Here's what they said....I don't wish cancer on anyone but it seems to me or money would be better spent on educating our children, especially our young women on the real dangers of having sexual intercourse outside of marriage.
She's talking abstinence, not promiscuity. Don't put words in her mouth she didn't say.
Great news.
Is it a new technique?
Oh yes it definitely is, you've definitely convinced me that you are ABSOLUTEDLY right and that I AM EVIL for questioning this vaccine.
You wanted to see a real asinine statement? Some innocent girl that marries a man who is a carrier of this horrible disease should be forced to deal with that hell because of something she had no part of?
And even if she had premarital sex... Is it a good reason not to immunize her against a horrible disease?
HELLO...
I don't she meant it that way, but opposing the development of this drug doesn't "wish" cance on people, it assures it. Like it or not according to the CDC about 3/4 of American women have had a HPV infection by middle age. That's a lot of women.
I know, most of these people are all for any cure of some disease that they can get by walking around in a supermarket, but if its one that is contacted by any means other than what actions they approve of then all they say boils down to "It's about the SIN..."
I can see it now.
"No, my daughter at age 10 isn't haveing sex".
Doctor: "It's mandatory to have this shot."
If you are a good parent, you'll decide to give it by yourself to avoid this conversation at age 16:
Doctor: I am sorry, your daughter has cervical cancer
You: But I told her not to have sex...
TLLOM, was talking about not have pre-marital sex. How did that get twisted into wishing cancer on someone or opposing the drug? Here's what she said....
Well hopefully if my daughter decide to marry men who have had previous relations, they would be tested for HPV along with AIDS etc. I haven't stated whether or not I would be for immunization or against having it, I just stated that once again one of the natural consequences of premarital sex are being removed.
If premarital sex was taken out of the equasion on the part of both the man and woman, they would have no need for the drug. In this day and age where children are having sex and getting pregnant at 13, the drug will be a lifesaver.
Yes... It will...
No Problem ...
Just wait until your daughter comes up to you and announces that she is going to have sex - then get her to wait six months until the series of 3 shots can be completed.
Sure ... that'll work ...
Kin Canute anybody?
If you are a good parent, you'll decide to give it by yourself to avoid this conversation at age 16:
Doctor: I am sorry, your daughter has cervical cancer
You: But I told her not to have sex...
The comment being addressed wasHow long will it be before they require this as part of immunization schedule? God forbid they allow anyone to suffer the consequence of premarital relations. I don't wish cancer on anyone but it seems to me or money would be better spent on educating our children, especially our young women on the real dangers of having sexual intercourse outside of marriage.
Personally I think Merck should spend their money on developing drugs, not education. Personally I think the connection between the risk of disease and promiscuous sex it tenuous at best, and likely nonexistent.
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