ICAP HPV Vaccine Papers Noted in Russian Media

I received an email from my ICAP associate, Christina England today. Her message explained a mystery I have been trying to solve for the past week. My site stats have indicated a large number of hits from Russian ISPs and those visitors spending time investigating my article archive. Christina noted the same site visitor anomalies and traced the traffic back to http://www.oodvrs.ru/article/index.php?id_page=47&id_article=940 and found her article about ICAP communications with the German Scientists of RKI concerning the safety of the HPV vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix. This article tracks back to our papers. It is amazing but our message has been have been translated into Russian. The word is getting out there yippee! Congrats to Christina!

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

HPV is one causal factor in the development of cervical cancer. Medical researchers note other factors contribute to cervical cancer, such as: Poverty— limited or no access to medical services; tobacco use; eating habits; weakened immune system; hormonal medications; exposure to Diethylstilberstrol (DES); Douching; and Chemical exposure in work environment.

Merck Press Release

Merck Press release: Studies of GARDASIL, Merck’s Cervical Cancer Vaccine, and HPV 16 Vaccine Component of GARDASIL Presented at International Papillomavirus Conference

German and Scottish Health Officials Review HPV Vaccine Programs

Scottish Conservative health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: “Given this new research, it is now incumbent on the Scottish Government and the chief medical officer to review the vaccination program to ensure that it lives up to the expectations of preventing cervical cancer.”

GlaxoSmithKline responds to FDA on Cervarix

GSK has submitted its response to questions raised by the FDA in their Complete Response Letter, received in December, 2007. In addition, given that final data from GSK’s Phase III pivotal efficacy study, HPV-008, are expected to be available later this year, GSK has decided to augment its application for approval with these data to ensure they are included in the U.S. label. GSK anticipates submitting these data in the first half of 2009. The timing depends on reaching a certain number of cases in order to conduct the final analysis. An FDA action on the application is expected to take up to six months following this submission. Interim data from this study were filed in the original application for the vaccine in March, 2007. The company does not expect that new clinical studies will be required for approval.