Cervical Cancer Vaccine Gardacil Recommended for Approval by FDA
May 30th, 2006
In a unanimous vote, an FDA advisory committee recently voted to endorse the safety and effectiveness of Gardasil. The new vaccine developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals has been shown to protect women from two types of the human papilloma virus, responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. The potential to cut worldwide deaths from the disease is huge.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, affecting an estimated 50% of sexually active adults. Each year, cervical cancer kills 290,000 women worldwide. About 3,500 of the annual deaths occur in the U.S., where many women have the opportunity for early detection through regular pap smears. Treatment for precancerous lesions and early cervical cancer greatly reduce mortality rates in the U.S..
Gardasil is the first vaccine known to prevent cervical cancer. If approved by the FDA, the Merck vaccine could be the biggest advance in eradicating cervical cancer since the pap test was introduced decades ago.
Merck recommends using the vaccine in females age 9 to 26. Gardasil can be most effective if young girls are vaccinated before they became sexually active. The vaccine is not intended to take the place of regular cervical screening.
The FDA is expected to endorse the use of the vaccine at a June meeting. If approval is given, a national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will decide whether to advocate routine vaccination with Gardasil.
Source: CNN.com
More Information
- See other HPV articles on this site
- Also see Recent Gardasil News
- Find discount prescription drugs in our new Online Drugstore
Tags: FDA, cancer, vaccine, cervical cancer
Entry Filed under: Cervical Cancer,Cervical Cancer,HPV
Private: Cervical Cancer Vaccine Gardacil Recommended for Approval by FDA
May 30th, 2006
In a unanimous vote, an FDA advisory committee recently voted to endorse the safety and effectiveness of Gardasil. The new vaccine developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals has been shown to protect women from two types of the human papilloma virus, responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. The potential to cut worldwide deaths from the disease is huge.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, affecting an estimated 50% of sexually active adults. Each year, cervical cancer kills 290,000 women worldwide. About 3,500 of the annual deaths occur in the U.S., where many women have the opportunity for early detection through regular pap smears. Treatment for precancerous lesions and early cervical cancer greatly reduce mortality rates in the U.S..
Gardasil is the first vaccine known to prevent cervical cancer. If approved by the FDA, the Merck vaccine could be the biggest advance in eradicating cervical cancer since the pap test was introduced decades ago.
Merck recommends using the vaccine in females age 9 to 26. Gardasil can be most effective if young girls are vaccinated before they became sexually active. The vaccine is not intended to take the place of regular cervical screening.
The FDA is expected to endorse the use of the vaccine at a June meeting. If approval is given, a national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will decide whether to advocate routine vaccination with Gardasil.
Source: CNN.com
More Information
- See other HPV articles on this site
- Also see Recent Gardasil News
- Find discount prescription drugs in our new Online Drugstore
Tags: FDA, cervical cancer, vaccine
Entry Filed under: Cervical Cancer,Cervical Cancer,HPV,PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
3 Comments Add your own
1. Nelida Agostini J | June 8th, 2006 at 9:52 am
When the vaccine Gardasil will be available?
Where can i buy it?
2. Anna Dabney | June 9th, 2006 at 11:37 am
The FDA approved Gardasil on June 8 for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26. It should be available soon through your internal medicine doctor or gynecologist. It is expensive, however, at $360 for a three-shot series given over six months. Many insurers are expected to cover the cost of this cervical cancer vaccine. Gardasil is an amazing breakthrough in preventing 70% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of genital warts. It is not known how long the vaccine will be effective, and booster shots may be required. Gardasil is probaby less effective once a woman has been exposed to the virus. Women should still get annual examinations and Pap smears and use protection for other sexually transmitted diseases.
3. julybaby2491 | September 5th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I have recieved the Gardacil shots and found there to be some side effects, including headaches, dizziness, becoming overly emotional and fatigue. The injection site bruised, and became very tender over the next month, although the other side effects faded long before that.
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