Israeli doctor heads Merck team that has developed vaccine against cervical cancer

ISRAEL21c ^ | June 14, 2006 | Staff

[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."

[Alama]

I have wonderful kids... What I don't accept is that because of delusions, people put kids'lives at risk...

Oh well, as I said before, Darwin at work...

[atlaw]

I don't wish cancer on anyone

Oh don't be coy. Sure you do -- those that have premarital sex.

[SJackson]

In my view there's no basis to expect Merck to run ads against promiscuous sex rather than expend funds on research...Nowadays, there are advertisements of Trojans on TV. That sends a clear signal to young people. Why not have an advertisement stating that pre-martial sex could give a young woman Cervical cancer?...Should Merck run ads against speeding?...Huh?

People die as a result of speeding just as they do as a result of HPV.

I've no problem with an ad campaign about the risks of pre-marital sex. I just don't think it's Merck's responsibility, and certainly not an alternative to research.

[Lando Lincoln]

This is wonderful news. And, the knowledge learned from this vaccination development will likely lead to new technologies. However, I feel like screaming at some of the discourse on this thread. I experience it all the time...... post an article about a specific topic and then watch it morph into scripture/immigration/abortion/TS/evolution/etc. I swear, some people are so removed from reality.

Again, great news. Meanwhile, the latest technological development from the Arab world is........

Lando

[processing please hold]

I just realized they are very "liberal" in their style of attack.

Yes, they are. I've seen more and more of that for the last several months.

Just let it roll off your back I guess. Some people here would argue with a rock.

[nmh]

"I am not Christian and do not want a Christian school..."

That's part of your problem.

"And I must say that seeing the behavior of my children's friends who go to Christian school, I would say you are quite naive... As I said, the stricter the parents, the wilder the kids' behavior... And that I have seen!"

There you go again! Lumping good kids into ole worn out stereo types. I'm not naive at all. The wonderful part of Christian parenting is that we love them to pieces, reward them and yes, discipline when necessary.

It's not just you ... I've seen these kinds of EXTREME responses before when it comes to ANYTHING Christian. There is such a ad version to it ... yet it is precisely what works best. Yeah, I know, you'd love to believe that if she does something wrong we whip her until she can't sit down and she has permanent welts on her back and rear end. LOL!


I know this might be even harder to comprehend but our kids love us back! I can look at acquaintances that sent their kids to public schools ... what you state is routine revelation in what they are today - a mess and the parents aren't much better. The old apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[SJackson]

I believe science should not have moral component, when it comes to curing disease. Science needs to be agnostic in such matters, providing relief to people, period.

You'd probably be happy to see an HIV vaccine. Imagine the controversy.

[veronica]

We see here what Jews contribute to the world. To medical advances, to the betterment of life. What do Muslims contribute? Nothing except sell us oil at rip off prices. And their oil fields and refineries were developed by the West. They are too backward to do so.

Backward, and hate-filled.

[nmh]

"I have wonderful kids... What I don't accept is that because of delusions, people put kids'lives at risk...

Oh well, as I said before, Darwin at work..."

From your EXTREMELY ugly confrontation with me ... I highly doubt that. Kids are not at risk when they agree that, sex before marriage is wrong.

OTOH, you'd stick chemicals into them because you can't trust them and don't have a good relationship with them.

No, even a Darwin award won't do for you. You're kind of award isn't amusing - something to be ashamed of... .

[Alama]

Meanwhile, the latest technological development from the Arab world is........

I am sure they are perfecting a method of beheading...

[RS]

"What a pity. Another "parent" who touts liberal scare tactics because they aren't raising their children well."

What a pity ... another FReeper who is so full of themselves that anyone who disagress with them is automatically a "liberal".

... and what happens, God forbid, your daughter is 22 and someone slips her a "date-rape" drug ?

... Or maybe simply gets married to a guy who has this ? ( but I'm sure you are planning to pick her husband out for her also before you release her from her vaccuum-sealed container )

[Alama]

You'd probably be happy to see an HIV vaccine. Imagine the controversy.

I will be happy if we have such a vaccine... But imagine the threads here...

[processing please hold]

There's been pre-martial sex for eons, it isn't going away anytime soon that I can see. I'm glad there's a vaccine out there now.

For those who practice abstinence, they don't have to worry about that being the cause of Cervical cancer.

[Alama]

From your EXTREMELY ugly confrontation with me ... I highly doubt that. Kids are not at risk when they agree that, sex before marriage is wrong....

Again my guess is that you haven't dealt with teenagers... Or maybe your education has failed and you don't want to recognize it...

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

It's not just you ... I've seen these kinds of EXTREME responses before when it comes to ANYTHING Christian. There is such a ad version to it ... yet it is precisely what works best. Yeah, I know, you'd love to believe that if she does something wrong we whip her until she can't sit down and she has permanent welts on her back and rear end. LOL!
___________________________________________________________

This one had me LOL...I guess that is what they (unbelievers) believe of us.

If one is abiding in Christ, their household is different than the typical American family. We are close with our children, we spend time with them and their friends. We know what is going on. We also lay out expectations for them and clearly present the consequences of their disobedience (immediate and future). I Love both of my daughters and because I love them, I do discipline and instruct them. This is biblical. Of course ALAMA would see me as a fanatic. Thankfully I answer to GOD alone.

[SJackson]

I will be happy if we have such a vaccine... But imagine the threads here...

They'd be ugly, subverting the natural consequences of sex and/or drug use and all.

[Alama]

Delusions, delusions...

Especially when dealing with teenagers...

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Do you really believe that all children have sex before marriage? You think you are the only parent that has teenagers? Of course if our children decide to be abstinent, this can't possibly be true? Where are you from?? It is a big lie that all kids are having sex!!

[processing please hold]

Has anyone seen the movie. "Wit" staring Emma Thompson? A movie everyone should see. It's about a woman with Cervical cancer. I watch it everytime it comes on.

[Alama]

They'd be ugly, subverting the natural consequences of sex and/or drug use and all.

As I posted, when vaccination was introduced by Jenner, a lot of the Christian hierarchy in Europe was opposed, saying that it interfered with God's will...

When chlorophorm was introduced to reduce birth pains, thevarious Churches were opposed because it went against Genesis... Queen Victoria was the one who more or less told them to shove it...

I guess obscurantism coming from some Christians is nothing new ... It is sad, but not new...