MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'hpv'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:49:03 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159832&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FMZZz09zPr9Q%2F Despite strong endorsements from public health officials, teenage vaccination rates for the HPV vaccine are trailing the other two vaccines recommended for teens and pre-teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two vaccines approved to combat the human papillomavirus are Gardasil, which is sold by Merck, and Cervarix, which is sold by GlaxoSmithKline. To be specific, coverage was 49 percent for one dose of HPV vaccine; 63 percent for MenACWY, which protects against meningococcal meningitis; and 69 percent for the TDP vaccine, which guards against tetanus, diptheria and pertussis. Meanwhile, coverage increases for Tdap and MenACWY vaccines grew 13.3 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively. For girls who received the recommended three doses of HPV vaccine, covera... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159832 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:25:02 +0100 5159832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159835&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FQexqt8C-1RI%2F A new analysis of more than 1,000 medical journal articles found that relatively few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines, according to a report released today by the Institute of Medicine. An expert committee reviewed scientific literature on possible side effects and found what it calls convincing evidence that vaccines can cause 14 specific adverse events - such as seizures, brain inflammation and fainting - but concluded that these occur rarely. “What we found is that there is very little evidence that vaccines cause adverse events, and most of the adverse events that there is evidence for tend to be time-limited,” Ellen Wright Clayton, director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University and the IOM committe chair, ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159835 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:20:13 +0100 5159835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107630&cid=t_99520_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Ff1LdsDd7wdc%2F I was getting my son’s physical for school the other day and the doctor talked to us about HPV.  What is it?  HPV, or humanpapilloma virus, is a very common sexually transmitted virus.  In fact, it is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States today.  More than half of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives.  The good news is that there is now a vaccine called Gardasil to protect you from this sometimes deadly virus.  Gardasil use to be given only to young women, but now it is recommended for girls, ages 11-26 AND males, ages 9-26.  It is important to note that the vaccine is given before any sexual contact, because once someone is infected, the vaccine might not work as well or might not work at all.  Women with the v... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107630 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0100 5107630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078028&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FeXH08oXg61s%2F As if Merck does not have enough problems with vaccine production, the drugmaker apparently distributed charred bits of plastic shrink wrap in vials of various vaccines - including Gardasil for preventing HPV infection, Varivax for chicken pox, Pneumovax for pneumococcal disease, Zostavax for shingles and MMR II for measles, mumps and rubella, according to Dow Jones. In 2008, the FDA issued a warning letter about manufacturing problems at Merck’s West Point, Pa., plant (read here). Since then, FDA inspection reports have cited more problems: the presence of metal particles in certain products, cracks in vaccine vials and delays in Merck’s reporting adverse event from products made at the plant to the FDA, Dow Jones writes. The drugmaker maintains most problems have been resolve... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078028 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:09:05 +0100 5078028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050452&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Finstitute-of-medicine-recommendations-released-birth-control-could-become-a-copay-free-preventive-service%2F The Institute of Medicine released its recommendations of which women’s health services should join the list of copay-free preventive services under the Affordable Care Act health care reform legislation. Birth control was included, along with services related to STIs, breastfeeding, and domestic violence. Over at OBOS, I have more information and links to some good commentaries and coverage of the news. Filed under: Abuse, Rape, & Safety, Access, Rights, & Choice, Breastfeeding, Contraception, Government, HIV/AIDS, HPV (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050452 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:39:41 +0100 5050452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992991&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrcQNRvANhJM%2F Once again, the vaccines for thwarting HPV, notably Merck’s Gardasil, are causing a stir. In the latest dust up, the California Catholic Conference is urging state residents to contact their legislators to oppose a bill that would remove parental consent for vaccinating children 12 and older against sexually transmitted diseases. Although California law already allows children 12 and older to consent to treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without involvement from their parents, the proposed bill would expand that right to immunizations (read the bill here). In an action alert, the bishops’ group warns parents that “minors do not have adequate judgment to make a decision about a vaccine that as of January 15, 2011, had 21,171 adverse reactions and 91 deaths report... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992991 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:10:17 +0100 4992991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968907&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgdMwJhmfSyI%2F At the end of 2009, Julie Gerberding stepped down as director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to become president of Merck’s vaccine division. The move came a period of tumult, given that vaccine sales had dropped 2 percent amid manufacturing woes and controversy over the safety and marketing of the Gardasil vaccine for HPV, which can cause cervical cancer. The challenges remain. The Merck vaccine division makes 14 of the 17 vaccines recommended by CDC for children and nine of the 10 recommended for adults. Nonetheless, Gerberding keeps a relatively low profile, but spoke earlier this week with Xconomy about innovation and funding for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (back story). An excerpt of their conversation is below. However, she does not addr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968907 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:47:08 +0100 4968907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902693&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7xm5seVkAgw%2F Several big drugmakers have agreed to slash prices on some of their vaccines, which are distributed to poor people in developing countries by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, the non-profit that was established by Bill Gates. The move comes just days before a widely anticipated GAVI board meeting that will address, in part, plans to raise $3.7 billion in needed funds. The price cuts are being offered by Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson’s Crucell unit, Sanofi Pasteur’s Shantha Biotechnics, Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute, and should help GAVI reduce the funding gap for commitments that run until 2015. The effort involves vaccines to combat rotavirus and HPV, as well as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902693 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:38:52 +0100 4902693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883527&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F30%2Fi-am-a-giant-whiner-about-the-heat-and-attempts-to-defund-planned-parenthood-in-tennessee%2F Ugh. The air conditioner at my place has been broken for the last few weeks, and it’s been a pretty constant 85 degrees in here. I have no idea how people tolerate the south without a/c on a regular basis – the persistent heat is making me whiny and angry and just generally unpleasant. It also has the effect of making it less pleasant for me to focus the energy to post about whatever nonsense our state legislature is up to related to women and their bodies. If the heat didn’t make me cranky enough, Senator Stacey Campfield (R, duh), added an item to the state budget to “cut off $747,900 a year in federal money for non-abortion family-planning and women’s health services to Planned Parenthood in Memphis and $335,000 to Planned Parenthood in Nashville.” No... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883527 Mon, 30 May 2011 15:05:25 +0100 4883527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4882969&cid=t_99520_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FIkvedTW5RBY%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Roger Hendrix, Rachel Katzenellenbogen, and Harmit Malik Vincent and guests Rachel Katzenellenbogen, Roger Hendrix, and Harmit Malik recorded TWiV #135 live at the 2011 ASM General Meeting in New Orleans, where they discussed transformation and oncogenesis by human papillomaviruses, the amazing collection of bacteriophages on the planet, and the evolution of genetic conflict between virus and host. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #135 (63 MB .mp3, 97 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Papillomavirus E6 proteins (Virology) Diversity of mycobacteriophages (PLoS One) Adaptive evol... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4882969 Sun, 29 May 2011 18:57:32 +0100 4882969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848150&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpzooZ2Wh0sg%2F Early last year, Merck sales rep David Turkheimer was instructed by his supervisor to tell a doctor that his patients would die if he did not prescribe the Gardasil HPV vaccine. The rep was was also told to inform another doc that his insurance rates would drop if Gardasil was prescribed. But he refused to do so and told his supervisor that such statements might run afoul of the FDA. That’s when Turkheimer allegedly ran into difficulty, according to a lawsuit he filed earlier this month against the drugmaker. He claims his persistant refusals prompted his supervisor to search for ways to terminate his employment. And his supervisor came up with an interesting rationale - he cited a car accident that Turkheimer insists was actually a medically induced episode of sleepdriving. Here&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848150 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:53:56 +0100 4848150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820859&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Funited-nations-push-to-vaccinate-every-female-for-hpv%2F For anyone keeping up on the statistics of growth in the vaccine industry, the income generated, and trends, here are some overwhelming facts: Global vaccine sales in 2010: $28 Billion Best selling vaccine in 2010: Pandemic influenza with $5 Billion in sales Second best-selling vaccine in 2010: Hepatitis B [it’s injected into newborn infants] HPV vaccine Gardasil® had $1.35 Billion in sales Top vaccine makers: GSK, Sanofi Aventis, Pfizer, Merck, and Novartis The pharmaceutical trade group PhRMA says there are 145 new vaccines in Research & Development Most promising vaccines: Cancer vaccines and vaccines for allergy, asthma, and smoking cessation are potential blockbusters. http://knol.google.com/k/krishan-maggon/global-vaccine-market-2010/3fy5eowy8suq3/152#   Projected sales... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820859 Thu, 12 May 2011 04:51:47 +0100 4820859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762936&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAEspvdtrmw4%2F Less than a month after the FDA refused to approve the Gardasil vaccine for preventing HPV in women ages 27 to 45, Health Canada has gone in the other direction and issued an endorsement. Although Canada is a smaller market than the US, the approval is a notable step for Merck, which has been counting on a larger demographic target to boost sorely needed vaccine revenue. In the US, Merck has been repeatedly frustrated in trying to widen the market for Gardasil. Last year, the FDA postponed a decision about approval for women ages 26 to 45 after Merck had submitted additional data. The submission was made after the agency three years ago refused to approve the vaccine for this same age bracket and, instead, sought data on a 48-month study (back story). In Canada, Gardasil is now approved to... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762936 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:32:43 +0100 4762936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762937&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fhg7QGCQONN0%2F Hello, everyone. Another busy day is about to unfold here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, as we prepare for a round of meetings and deadlines. To cope, we are our brewing our mandatory cup of stimulation - we continue to favor Wild Mountain Blueberry this week. Meanwhile, here are some items to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Par Pharma Pays $153M To Settle Pricing Lawsuits (Reuters) Sanofi-Aventis Profit Falls Due To Generics (Bloomberg News) More US Women Are Using The Morning After Pill (Reuters) Roche Wins FDA Approval For HPV Diagnostics Test (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Profits Get A Lift From Tax Breaks (Pharma Times) Merck Hepatitis C Drug Wins FDA Panel Backing (Boston Globe) Australia Delays Subsidies For Some Medicines (Australian Broadc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762937 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:49:06 +0100 4762937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693511&cid=t_99520_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F6-most-common-stds-in-men%2F Image via WikipediaThe 6 Most Common STDs in MenMany recovering alcoholic or addicted men can remember the alcohol and drug induced sexual activities that may have exposed them to STDs. Recovery, for me, means healthy living in all aspects of my life. Prevention of gaining or giving STDs is one of these practices.You can prevent STDs. Here’s how.Italians called it “the Spanish disease.” The French dubbed it “the English disease.” Among Russians, it was known as “the Polish disease.” Among Arabs? “The disease of Christians.”No one wanted to claim it, and with good reason. The disease, syphilis, begins by causing crusty sores in private places. After hiding out in the body for years, it can emerge to drive people insane and then kill them.Syphilis is just one of more than a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693511 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:23:32 +0100 4693511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684762&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxvsJhjRYHqc%2F In a setback to Merck, the FDA has refused to approve the use of the Gardasil vaccine for preventing HPV in women ages 27 to 45, a market the drugmaker has been counting on to boost sorely needed vaccine revenue. In a brief statement, Merck says prescribing info was updated to indicate Gardasil has not demonstrated to prevent HPV-related cervical cancer in women older than 26. The drugmaker has been repeatedly frustrated in its quest to widen the market for Gardasil. Last year, the FDA postponed a decision about approval for women ages 26 to 45 after Merck had submitted additional data. The submission was made after the agency three years ago refused to approve the vaccine for this same age bracket and, instead, sought data on a 48-month study (back story). The vaccine is already approved ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684762 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:11:21 +0100 4684762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642052&cid=t_99520_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FsCXkxV-UUWQ%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Michelle Ozbun On episode #126 of the podcast This Week in Virology, virologist Michelle Ozbun and the TWiV team review the biology of human papillomaviruses. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #126 (69 MB .mp3, 96 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Human papillomavirus page at CDC Human papillomavirus vaccines page at CDC A better test for HPV (pdf) Human papillomaviruses and malignancy (review) Should smallpox stocks be destroyed? (poll at virology blog) TWiV on Facebook Letters read on TWiV 126 Weekly Science Picks Michelle –... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642052 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:43:44 +0100 4642052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4540567&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-study-links-hpv-to-head-and-neck-cancers-in-men%2F2011.03.02 A new study finds that half of men in America are infected with the HPV virus. Dr. Jon LaPook reports on the growing concern that the virus in men could be responsible for an increase in head and neck cancers. HPV Affects Half Of U.S. Men A study out [yesterday] in The Lancet by Moffitt Cancer Center researcher Anna Giuliano, Ph.D., and her colleagues finds that 50 percent of men ages 18 to 70 in Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S. have genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).  HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer in women. It also causes warts and cancer of the genitals and anus in both men and women. Over the past several years, researchers have realized that the virus can also cause cancer of the head and neck. Aimee R. Kreimer, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4540567 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:00:34 +0100 4540567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507583&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FV52maQaohbs%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We hope you had a relaxing weekend and feel refreshed. Now, of course, the time has come to resume the routine of meetings and deadlines. To cope, we are reaching for the mandatory cup of stimulation and invite you to join us. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to get you started. Hope your day goes well and drop us a line if you hear something of interest… Forest Labs To Pay $1.2B For Clinical Data And An Antidepressant (Reuters) Gilead To Buy Calistoga Pharma For $375M (Silicon Valley Business Journal) Medtronic To Eliminate Up to 2,000 Jobs (Bloomberg News) Elan Reports 10 More PML Cases With Tysabri (Irish Examiner) Merck Vioxx Settlement Causes Money Fight Among Lawyers (Bloomberg News) Sanofi Looks For Generics And OTC Brands In India ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507583 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:59:38 +0100 4507583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433105&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-link-between-oral-sex-and-head-and-neck-cancer%2F2011.02.03 USA Today published a pretty accurate article regarding the rise of certain head and neck cancers with the increased popularity of oral sex and number of sexual partners. The factor that creates this link is the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is associated with tonsil and tongue cancer. Alcohol and tobacco use is more highly linked with such oral cancers, but HPV does appear to be an independent risk factor. A 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that younger people with head and neck cancers who tested positive for oral HPV infection were more likely to have had multiple vaginal and oral sex partners in their lifetime. Having six or more oral sex partners over a lifetime was associated with a 3.4 times higher risk for oropharyngeal cancer — cancers of the base ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433105 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4433105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433330&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZnvAWxo_J08%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. And here on the frosty Pharmalot corporate campus we are bounding with energy thanks to the ritual cup of stimulation, or three. The special flavor today is Golden French Toast. Of course, this makes it all the more possible to hunt down those interesting tidbits. Here are a few to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Komen Advocacy Group Is Cautious On Avastin (Wall Street Journal) Merck 2011 Misses Estimate And Takes $1.7M Drug Write-Off (Bloomberg News) Teva Receives FDA Warning Letter For Jerusalem Plant (Reuters) Merck’s Gardasil Prevents HPV And Genital Warts In Men (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Profits Slump On Legal Costs And Avandia Slowdown (PharmaTimes) Painkiller Prescription Errors Due To ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433330 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:12:59 +0100 4433330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372213&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F19%2Flibbys-hope%25e2%2584%25a2-proudly-announces-a-strategic-partnership-with-womens-oncology-research-dialogue%2F It is our privilege and honor to announce a strategic partnership between Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ and Women’s Oncology Research & Dialogue. It is our privilege and honor to announce a strategic partnership between Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ (LH) and Women’s Oncology Research & Dialogue (WORD). WORD’s overarching mission is to raise gynecologic cancer awareness and fund related scientific [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372213 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:22:53 +0100 4372213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4295015&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Fgeneral-info%2Ffda-approves-hpv-vaccine-for-men%2F Gardasil (human papillomavirus vaccine), the vaccine that can prevent most cases of cervical cancer in girls, has won the FDA’s blessing as a vaccine to prevent anal cancer, a huge victory for men! The FDA’s  approval for Gardasil as an anal cancer vaccine opens the way for the medication’s maker, Merck and Co. Inc., to market the vaccine to boys and young men between the ages of nine and 26 – an option that will be most meaningful for men who have sex with men, but valuable to all.  Nobody likes getting HPV on their penis.  It really can devastate many boys and men.  When the HPV ends up on their anal area – the risk of anal cancer is high.  Although this is most commonly seen in homosexual men, it is not infrequent for heterosexual men to be at risk.  ... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4295015 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:02:50 +0100 4295015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285353&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fj_8GX6iXEFk%2F The holiday weekend may be in the offing, but the Pharmalot corporate campus is still humming. And why not? The world has not stopped spinning, after all, and there is always something interesting going on. So while you prepare for a celebration or simply slow down the usual pace, here are a few items to help you along. Meanwhile, we pass along holiday greetings and hope everyone has a chance to catch up on some fun things and enjoy life. See you soon… Cephalon Names Kevin Buchi As CEO (statement) Lundbeck Alcoholism Pill May Be A Goldmine (Bloomberg News) Novartis To Build Vaccine Plant In North Carolina (Raleigh News & Observer) FDA Reviews Safety Of Human Growth Hormone Drugs (Reuters) Pfizer And Bristol Bloodthiners Beats Sanofi Drug In Study (Bloomberg News) Massachusetts Award... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285353 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:54:53 +0100 4285353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281268&cid=t_99520_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F12%2Ffda-approves-gardasil-anal-cancer%2F The United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded the recommended uses of Gardasil to include the prevention of anal cancer. The drug, which is also approved for use against anal warts, acts against the human papillovirus (HPV) microbe which is thought to be an etiological factor in many anal cancers. The FDA’s Dr. Karen Midthun comments. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281268 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:25:01 +0100 4281268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258863&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fskin-cancer-where-the-sun-don%25e2%2580%2599t-shine%2F2010.12.14 Not all skin cancers are from sun exposure. Viruses such as human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts, also cause skin cancer. Skin cancer from HPV develops on genital skin in both men and women. It’s rarely talked about, but it’s important and can be deadly. Did you know that half of all deaths from skin cancer other than melanoma are from genital skin cancer? You probably also didn’t know that women are more likely to die from genital skin cancer as they are from skin cancer that developed from sun exposure (again, excluding melanoma). We dermatologists are inexhaustible when it comes to warning people about the dangers of sun exposure, but we should also be warning people about the dangers of genital warts. HPV protection, which includes HPV vaccines, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258863 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:00:03 +0100 4258863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179525&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FXGVfJpCTsxU%2F Hello, everyone. Another shiny day is unfolding here at the Pharmalot corporate campus where, as usual, we are hustling short people off to the local school house and brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation. A truly busy day, however, lies in store. You know that feeling, yes? So please join us as we prepare for another round of meetings and deadlines. And of course, here are some tidbits to get us going. Have a good one and see you soon… Pfizer And Cipla May Ink Global Supply Deal (The Times of India) Genzyme Sells Diagnostic Unit To Sekisui Chemical (Reuters) India Tightens Clinical Trial Guidelines (Outsourcing Pharma) Israeli Biotechs Flock To Ohio For Funds And Experts (Bloomberg News) FDA Panel Backs Merck’s Gardasil To Thwart Anal Cancer (Associated Press) Montana Gover... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179525 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:55:37 +0100 4179525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4167962&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F11%2F15%2Fglaxosmithkline-influences-experts-to-boost-hpv-vaccine-sales%2F A few days ago, the Daily Express ran an article which stated that cancer expert Professor Peter Sasieni recommended phasing out smear tests in favour of HPV testing. The opening statement in Victoria Fletcher’s article ‘New Cancer Check To Phase Out Smear Tests’ (http://www.express.co.uk/posts/…)read : “SMEAR tests for cervical cancer should be phased out for all women, a top expert said.” According to the Express Professor Sasieni, a scientist at Queen Mary, University of London, recommended smear tests should be phased out as soon as possible saying: “Smear tests should be phased out starting as soon as possible with this being completed in five years. What further research are we waiting for? It is clear there are a number of HPV tests which are as good as... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4167962 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:22:56 +0100 4167962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155401&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fain6fpEbfME%2F The reasons are likely numerous, but only 27.3 percent of eligible teenage girls and young women chose to begin the three-dose series of an HPV vaccine. And of these, 39.1 percent completed just one dose, 30.1 percent got two doses and 30.7 percent finished the series, according to research being presented this week at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting. The data comes from a review of medical records of 9,658 girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26 who were seen at the University of Maryland Medical Center between August 2006 and August 2010, HealthDay writes. The abstract also revealed that blacks were less likely than whites to get all three doses, and women aged 18 through 26 were less likely than younger girls to complete the series. Last summer, a US Cen... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155401 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:36:09 +0100 4155401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133716&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F11%2F02%2Fglaxo-smith-kline-brainwash-doctors-hpv-vaccine%2F In June 2008 a promotional DVD was sent to every General Practitioner (G.P.) in the UK just hours before the launch of the Cervarix vaccine in the UK. The DVD was posted with the G.P. magazine and was a clever marketing strategy aimed at busy G.P.’s to ‘brainwash‘ them into believing that the Cervarix vaccine protected young women from the perils of cervical cancer. With phrases such as ‘Cervarix, the vaccination to prevent cervical cancer’ and convincing animation, the DVD certainly goes all out to convince the medical profession that the vaccine is safe, effective, and a must for all young women. One organisation that promotes vaccination safety S.A.N.E Vax Inc (http://sanevax.org/) (Safe, Affordable, Necessary and Effective Vaccines) were so shocked at what... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133716 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:54:02 +0100 4133716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125008&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvaccines-top-10-reasons-to-get-your-shots%2F2010.11.01 Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in history. They are incredibly safe and effective and are well-tolerated by most people. In the US, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carefully reviews all reports of adverse reactions that could be associated with vaccines. Over decades of review, they have found that the rate of potential severe reactions is so low that they cannot even calculate a risk. There are many vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. Please check these vaccine schedules to make sure that you and your family are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. (Or you can ask your doctor/nurse to review your vaccine needs with you in person.) Vaccines for ages 0-6 click here. Vaccines for ages 7-18 click here. Vac... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125008 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:32 +0100 4125008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121859&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F10%2F30%2Fletter-alerts-obama-to-dangers-of-hpv-vaccines%2F In an extraordinary move to prevent further HPV vaccine casualties, Marian Greene the Chairwomen and Co-Founder of the campaign and action group Truth about Gardasil (http://truthaboutgardasil.org/), has written an open letter to President Obama.  Her letter urges the President to take time to research the HPV vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix and to read what is happening to the innocent young men and women of America. She opens her letter by saying: “We come to you now to beg for your help. The lives of an entire generation of young women and now, men, are hanging in the balance.” Greene strengthens her plea by alerting the President to a staggering 20101 reports of injury and 84 deaths; highlighting the case of a forty day old baby who died after being exposed to Gardasil through the ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121859 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:01:49 +0100 4121859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106059&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSQVMR3QVZ2E%2F Taking a direct approach with the FDA is all the rage these days. For instance, aggrieved investors recently created an online petition to implore the FDA to investigate staffers for their input into a recent panel meeting for the Arena Pharmaceutical diet pill (see this). And now several parents, who formed a non-profit to protest widespread use of Merck’s Gardasil vaccine for HPV, have written the agency to demand that approval be rescinded. In its letter, SANE Vax argues that the FDA permitted Merck to use “an inappropriate primary endpoint and unreliable HPV genotyping methods” evaluating efficacy. You can read the letter here to learn more, but basically the group maintains that less serious cervical lesions were permitted as an endpoint and they cite National Cancer... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106059 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:05:35 +0100 4106059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106064&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FjEVliExIRuE%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. Hope your weekend was refreshing and relaxing. Now, of course, the routine returns as we gear up for those meetings and deadlines. To cope, we are brewing our favorite cup of stimulation. Please join us as we peruse the news of the world and continue our quest for interesting items. Tidbits are always welcome. Hope your day goes well and see you soon… Novartis Menveo Vaccine Protects Infants In Study (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Cuts Cervarix Price By 30 Percent In Canada (Reuters) Chinese SFDA Steps Up Fake Avastin Investigation (Shanghai Daily) Alcon Names Dan Vasella As Chairman (MarketWatch) FDA Finds High Levels Of Peroxide In Batch of Crospovidone (InPharma-Technologist) J&J Faces UK Class-Action Suit Over Hip Devices (The Daily Mail) Penn... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106064 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:40:04 +0100 4106064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077215&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F205302%2F Scientists Have Identified: The 8 types of HPV that cause 90% of all cervical cancer cases. (via MSNBC) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077215 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:34:02 +0100 4077215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061089&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Fgeneral-info%2Fanal-warts-in-men%2F What are anal warts? Anal warts (also called “condyloma acuminata”) are a condition that affects the area around and inside the anus. They may also affect the skin of the genital area. They first appear as tiny spots or growths, perhaps as small as the head of a pin, and may grow larger than the size of a pea. Usually, they do not cause pain or discomfort to afflicted individuals. As a result, patients may be unaware that the warts are present. Some patients will experience symptoms such as itching, bleeding, mucus discharge and/or a feeling of a lump or mass in the anal area. Anal warts, thought to be caused by the human papilloma virus, can grow larger and spread if not removed. It is important to know that Anal warts can be found both heterosexuals and in men who have sex wi... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061089 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:19:14 +0100 4061089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018443&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7JCvqMqxGwI%2F An effort that began eight years ago to develop a herpes simplex vaccine for women has ended in failure and uncertainty. After assessing final Phase III trial results, the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, known as Simplirix, failed to meet its primary endpoint, which was preventing genital herpes. However, it remains unclear why the vaccine was not effective. Safety issues were not cited as a problem. The outcome is a huge disappointment for the drugmaker, which has been attempting to expand its portfolio of vaccine products, given that an estimated one in four women in the US alone has genital herpes. In other words, the afflication is one of the most common infectious diseases and that can translate into huge revenues. The study, which was a randomized, double-blind trial, was undertaken with th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018443 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:27:08 +0100 4018443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3921077&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIdVyE8QL1Fg%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. A chipper morning here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where our sponsor - me - would like to remind you about an upcoming webinar with former US Attorney Michael Loucks, who will chat about avoiding litigation over promoting medicines (please click here). Meanwhile, the time has come again to reach for that cup of stimulation and draw back the curtains to let the sunshine in. Hope your day goes well… AstraZeneca Fails To Win FDA OK For Respiratory Drug (Associated Press) Robo-Tripping May Lead To New Controls On Cough Meds (Bloomberg News) Glaxo And Valent Face Delay For Their Epilepsy Drug (Bloomberg News) Meet The Gardasil Girls (The Irish Examiner) Drugmakers Seek Alternatives To Steroids (The New York Times) European Regulators OK Shire... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3921077 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:05:01 +0100 3921077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3899637&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fk0EBwlUTXr4%2F There may still be controversy over human papillomavirus vaccines - notably, Merck’s Gardasil - but teenage vaccination rates are creeping up, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of more than 20,000 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 (see here). The vaccines, which include GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix, were endorsed by public health officials to thwart cervical cancer. Specifically, the survey found increases in the percentage of teens who received vaccines routinely recommended for 11 and 12-year-olds. Among teenage girls who received at least one of three necessary doses of an HPV vaccine, coverage increased 7 percent to about 44 percent. But for girls who received all three doses, coverage was only 27 percent, which amounted to a 9 percent incr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3899637 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00:24 +0100 3899637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845284&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFNl5DmcDSBc%2F For the first time in three years, Merck can now say that all of its pediatric vaccines are again available. The disclosure, which was made on its supply status web page on Aug. 2, follows a series of components shortages and manufacturing gaffes that continue to leave some adult vaccines unavailable. The drugmaker is once again shipping Comvax, a combination vaccine that is used to ward off meningitis and hepatitis B. Earlier this year, Merck restored supplies of PedvaxHIB for meningitis; ProQuad, which vaccinates against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox; and the pediatric formulation of hepatitis B vaccine Recombivax HB. However, Merck continues to have difficulties with some of its adult vaccines. As previously noted, the adult version of Recombivax will not be available at all th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845284 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:59:23 +0100 3845284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780327&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F190246%2F No Pap Smears for Women Under 21: New guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say that pap smears only reveal HPV at that age, which very rarely leads to cancer in women under 21. (via MSNBC) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780327 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:06:39 +0100 3780327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780330&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhpv-may-increase-skin-cancer-risk%2F Human papillomavirus (HPV), commonly linked with cervical, vaginal, and throat cancers, may be associated with yet another serious health risk: skin cancer. A new study led by Dr. Margaret Karagas of Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire found that subjects with HPV had a higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer. The study compared HPV antibody levels in 663 adults with squamous cell carcinoma, 898 people with basal cell carcinoma, and 805 healthy control patients. They found that testing positive for two or three types of HPV translated into a 44% higher risk for squamous cell carcinoma, and having four to eight types meant a 51% higher risk. Having over eight types boosted the risk to over 71%. Testing positive for two or three typ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780330 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:07:49 +0100 3780330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746687&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F187954%2F Link Between HPV and Skin Cancer: A new study suggests that the risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma is higher if you have HPV, especially if you’re taking drugs like glucocorticoids to suppress the immune system. (via US News and World Report) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746687 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:40:16 +0100 3746687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737296&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ffddq69mEzdI%2F As Merck looks to extend the market for its Gardasil HPV vaccine to older women (back story), a new study finds the human papillomavirus shows up in young children whose airways may become infected while in the womb or during childbirth. As a result, children can develop wart-like lesions of the nose, pharynx, trachea and bronchi, a problem known as juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, or JoRRP, which can interfere with breathing and require surgical removal. The study, which was published online in The Laryngoscope (subscription required), found that between 1994 and 2007, the overall incidence rate of JoRRP in children aged 14 and younger was only 0.24 cases per 100,000, or 243 reported cases (the prevalence rate was 1.11 per 100,000). And these required 3,021 surgical pr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737296 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:20:45 +0100 3737296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3730095&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FyREbKSL71QY%2F A watchdog group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate contract pricing arrangements that Merck and Sanofi-Pasteur offer physician practices. In a letter to the FTC, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington allege the vaccine makers offer docs significant discounts, but only after signing contracts prohibiting them from purchase vaccines made by rivals. To make its case, CREW cites memos and emails written by four different physician groups in which its doctors are reminded to purchase only vaccines from Sanofi-Pasteur or Merck if they want to obtain the best prices. The vaccines include Merck’s Gardasil for HPV, Rotateq for rotavirus, and Recombivax for hepatitis B, while the Sanofi vaccines include several products, notably Menactra for meningitis. C... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3730095 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:25:47 +0100 3730095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794956&cid=t_99520_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator-2%2Fanother-article-about-oral-cancer%2F Yes. This morning, in my email, I found to notifications about oral cancer information, but they weren’t the same old heart wrenching statistics we already know about. Every dental professional knows that oral cancer screening is an essential part of a thorough dental checkup. The highly publicized statistics about oral cancer frequency, mortality rate, and cure rate are common knowledge in the field. A recent Web Exclusive article titled “Part 1: The importance of oral cancer screenings” appeared on www.DentalProductsReport.com this month. Written by Eileen Morrissey, a dental hygienist, the text supports the importance of oral cancer screenings and provides a good example of how a dentist can adopt new oral cancer screening technology. Morrissey provides this advice: “If you are ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794956 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:53:18 +0100 3794956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672038&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FODzQwVUybYI%2F Yet another setback for Merck, at least for now. The FDA has postponed a decision to broaden usage of its Gardasil HPV vaccine to women between the ages of 27 and 45. Earlier this year, the drugmaker submitted new data to the FDA and had hoped to hear by the end of June, but a Merck spokeswoman tells us the agency will now respond by the end of 2010. The drugmaker has been repeatedly frustrated in its quest to widen the market for Gardasil. The vaccine is already approved to protect against some strains of the human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer, in girls and women ages 9 to 26. Gardasil is also approved to prevent genital warts in males of the same age. Exactly two years ago, the FDA bounced its request to treat older women and early last year, the FDA again withheld a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672038 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:17:54 +0100 3672038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666247&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Fgeneral-info%2Fnational-men%25e2%2580%2599s-health-week-june-14th-to-20th%2F June 14-20th is National Men’s Health Week and June 20th is Father’s Day. Lets celebrate both by sharing the gift of knowledge.  Here are some key facts about STD/STI’s that every man should know. STD/STIs are certainly a critical piece of the sexual health puzzle but being sexually healthy is about much more. Our most basic advice is: Abstinence is good and can happen at different times in life Talk to your parents, they were your age once Talk to your partner (before you have sex) Make sure you and your partner know how to use a condom correctly Find a good healthcare provider and talk to them Get help if you don’t think you’re in a healthy relationship Get yourself tested and make sure your partner gets tested (before you have sex) Take advantage of the vaccines that wi... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666247 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:07:56 +0100 3666247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621949&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUaS4XdiMCE0%2F Only 34 percent of teenage girls ages 13 to 17 received Merck’s Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccine, which public health officials endorsed to help prevent cervical cancer. Although the vaccination rate remains low, the results actually suggest an increase from earlier studies showing only about 25 percent of teenage girls were vaccinated, according to one of the study’s co-authors. “The good news is that the vaccination rate is increasing,” study co-author Sandi Pruitt of the University of Washington School of Medicine, tells us. “The bad news is this is just the first dose of a three-dose vaccine.” Although the study did not examine the reasons for the persistently low vaccination rates, she speculated that cost, awareness and social conservatism may contribute.... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621949 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:53:05 +0100 3621949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618092&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVcXlT15h6x4%2F Welcome back. We hope you had a nice weekend. It was a long one here in the states. Now, of course, the routine has returned and that means a to-do list complete with meetings and deadlines. So grab that cup of stimulation and get ready for another day. To help you along, here are a few items of interest. Have a good one and stay in touch… Glaxo Settles More Avandia Lawsuits (Reuters) AstraZeneca Gets Complete Response Letter For Axanum (Bloomberg News) EMA Urges Cooperation On Overseas Trials (Outsourcing Pharma) UK’s NICE Rejects Novartis’ Xolair For Children (Reuters) CSL Recalls Flu As Side Effects Rise (Bloomberg News) Singapore Considers Mandatory HPV Vaccination (AsiaOne) Elan Optimistic On Sale Of Drug Delivery Unit (InPharmaTechnologist) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618092 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:03:14 +0100 3618092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614500&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F30%2Fposts-from-the-medical-library-association-2010-conference%2F I served as an official blogger again this year for the Medical Library Association annual conference (in Washington, DC – in addition to doing two presentations myself!). Here’s a list of the posts I’ve done, which generally include some good online resources related to the topics at hand. Various posts may be of interest to other med librarians, individuals with NIH-funded or other federally funded research grants, anatomy instructors, those interested in HIV/AIDS or vaccines, community outreach on health, PubMed searchers, and others: Section Program: Vaccine Information – speakers from the CDC, a university, and a public health librarian on vaccine safety and information on communication, myths and misperceptions, outreach efforts related to the HPV vaccine, an... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614500 Sun, 30 May 2010 17:11:42 +0100 3614500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542903&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F56%2Fremoving-warts-with-duct-tape%2F Common warts are thickened, crusty lesions with noticeable black pinpoint dots. Contrary to what most people think, these aren’t caused by frog’s urine. They are caused by a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are a lot of ways to get rid of these pesky lesions but every technique aims to destroy the virus. You can apply an over-the-counter salicylic acid gel or solution, freeze it with liquid nitrogen, zap it with a laser or have it cauterized but I think the cheapest way to do it is to use duct tape. That’s right, DUCT TAPE!. Simply cut a piece of duct tape and apply it on the wart then leave it on for 7 days. On the eighth day, take it off and repeat the process until the wart disappears. It may take a month or two for it to completely resolve . This isn’t a guar... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542903 Fri, 07 May 2010 14:44:43 +0100 3542903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408331&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ftaking-the-piss-out-of-pee%2F We women often wait ages longer in line than men for the restroom, only to meet a seat be-dewed with yellow droplets. Whoever last used this toilet was a proponent of the “helicopter” or “crop duster” approach to urination. She squats, hovers, and sprays. She was thus spared contact with a potentially dirty john – with the added benefit of working her thighs and glutes. The downside, for you, is damp. If your office is home to a chronic crop duster, irate signs in creative fonts tend to appear on stall doors: “PLEASE be considerate and leave this bathroom the way you found it. This is a SHARED space. We don’t come to YOUR house and pee on the seat!” and on and on, depending on how often your co-workers have gotten a wet one. Another favorite is the cutes... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408331 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:33:47 +0100 3408331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408632&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FLiUgnNH3qCw%2F Here’s the connection: the human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer, is also linked to head and neck cancer, including one form called oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, or OSCC, which is spread by oral sex, according to a piece in BMJ. And more cases, particularly in the developing world, are being reported, and so the BMJ researchers suggest wider use of HPV vaccines should be explored - for boys as well as girls. “We need to look at the evidence again to re-evaluate the cost-effectiveness of male children in light of this new and rapidly rising incidence,” Hisham Mehanna of the Institute of Head and Neck Studies at University Hospital Coventry, one of the BMJ researchers, told Reuters. Currently, however, the HPV vaccines - Merck’s Gardasil and G... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408632 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:57:33 +0100 3408632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378414&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffinally-a-man-who-really-knows-women%2F Meet Edward J. Gill, MD. By day, he’s Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Director of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, and Program Director of fellowship training in female pelvic medicine and surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Which is a long-winded way of saying that he’s really smart. By night, he practices yoga, swims, cooks, and builds furniture in his wood shop. Luckily for us, Dr. Gill will contribute regular posts to Blisstree and answer questions related to all of our “lady problems”. Seriously, why do men become gynecologists? (Sorry, but we’ve seen “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle,” and just had to ask.) That certainly comes up once in a while. In medical school, after ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378414 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:30:42 +0100 3378414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3359214&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbgsGsCr248w%2F The controversy over the Gardasil vaccine for HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer, has never really gone away and this morning six women will hold a teleconference with several FDA officials to discuss numerous adverse events they say they have collected from various countries in hopes of convincing the agency to take a tougher look at the Merck product. They call themsevles the “Little Women,” and they say they’ve spent the past three years documenting Gardasil. They also run a web site called TruthAboutGardasil, which displays pictures of young women who, their families claim, were harmed by the vaccine. For its part, Merck has always stood by the safety of Gardasil and last year, both the FDA and the CDC reaffirmed the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness (see ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3359214 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:21:55 +0100 3359214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302636&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FG4qZxWrBJDg%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. A dreary week here at the Pharmalot corporate campus, where assorted short people are battling head colds and moving about at a sluggish pace. We urge them to persevere but, alas, they are too young for the magic cup of stimulation (coffee, for those of you whose imaginations are too vivid). Meanwhile, we now turn our attention to the day ahead, as should you. So dig in and have a good one… Roche’s Xeloda Cancer Drug Gets New EU OK (Reuters) Canada Approves Gardasil For Warts In Boys (Edmonton Journal) Basilea And Astellas Sign Licensing Deal (Reuters) FDA Warns Lilly Over Violations At Plant (FDA warning letter) FDA Warns About HIV Drug Combo Risk (Associated Press) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302636 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:44:03 +0100 3302636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3288018&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGM7yGlc5NZ4%2F A New York State bill that would allow healthcare practitioners to vaccinate children (not just girls) under 18 against HPV without parental consent appears to be on hold for now. The language in a Senate bill is being clarified and no other legislative action is currently under way, according to an email from New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman to Diane Harper, who was a researcher for Merck’s Gardasil vaccine and has called for more complete warnings for parents (some background). The disclosure concerning the bill comes after some hoopla over the initiative, which would dovetail with an assembly bill requiring vaccinations before children would be allowed to attend school. The overall effort drew some protest in light of the ongoing debate, in some quarters, over the safety ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3288018 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:03:36 +0100 3288018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280190&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZ1eU3oGqWAs%2F Gardasil protected most women from cervical cancer and homosexual men from anal cancer, according to new studies from Merck. In about 3,800 women ages 24 to 45 years old, three shots prevented precancerous lesions on the cervix and genital warts in 89 percent compared to placebo, the Associated Press writes. Gardasil, you may recall, is approved to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts in girls and women aged 9 to 26, and for preventing genital warts in boys and men aged 9 to 26. But Merck has been frusrated trying to win FDA approval to widen the market for its HPV vaccine. In June 2008, the agency bounced its request to treat women aged 27 to 45, which contributed to a slowdown in sales (background here). Early last year, the FDA again withheld approval and asked Merck to submit data... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280190 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:22:10 +0100 3280190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262563&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-emergency-contraception-a-panel-discussion-at-wellesley-and-spanish-language-posts%2F At Our Bodies Our Blog, I have a post on an emergency contraception drug working its way through the approval process in the U.S. and info on an upcoming panel discussion in Wellesley, MA on new mammography and breast self-examination recommendations featuring speakers from the National Women’s Health Network and Black Women’s Health Imperative. I’m also really thrilled to see more Spanish-language posts going up – here’s the Spanish version of a recent one of mine on the reversal of the HPV vaccine requirement for U.S. immigrant women. Thanks to our volunteer translator! Filed under: Boobs, Cancer, Events & Observances, Government, HPV, Women's Health (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262563 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:29:18 +0100 3262563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3225022&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Fresearch%2Foral-sex-cause-of-throat-cancer-rise%2F Changing sexual practices have led to a dramatic rise in throat cancer in the United States over the past two decades, and experts say they fear an epidemic of the disease. The comments were made Wednesday at a news conference held by the American Association for Cancer Research to discuss research into the role of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus ( HPV) in head and neck cancer. Increasing rates of HPV infection, spread through oral sex, is largely driving the rapid rise in oropharyngeal cancers, which include tumors of the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue, said Scott Lippman, MD, who chairs the thoracic department at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Studies of oropharyngeal tumor tissue stored 20 years ago show that only around 20% are HPV positiv... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3225022 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:15:26 +0100 3225022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212393&cid=t_99520_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F27%2Fdan-kahan-on-the-situation-of-risk-perceptions%2F Situationist Contributor Dan Kahan was recently interviewed for the National Science Foundation website.  In the interview, which you can watch the on the video below, Kahan discusses how people’s values shape perceptions of the HPV vaccine.  Here’s the abstract. * * * The “cultural cognition thesis” argues that individuals form risk perceptions based on often-contested personal views about what makes a good society. Now, Yale University Law professor Dr. Dan Kahan and his colleagues reveals how people’s values shape their perceptions of one of the most hotly debated health care proposals in recent years: vaccinating elementary-school girls, ages 11-12, against human papillomavirus (HPV), a widespread sexually transmitted disease. * * * * * * For a sam... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212393 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:01:46 +0100 3212393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172200&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FdhxPlWdO1r8%2F The Gardasil grope continues. Merck gave the FDA new data to win approval to market its HPV vaccine to women between the ages of 27 and 45. Gardasil is already approved to protect against some strains of the human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer, in girls and women ages 9 to 26. The vaccine is also approved to prevent genital warts in males of the same age. Merck has been trying for some time to win FDA approval to market Gardasil to more women, but has so far been frustrated. In June 2008, the agency bounced its request to treat women between ages of 27 and 45, which contributed to a slowdown in sales (background here). Early last year, the FDA again withheld approval and asked Merck to submit data when a 48-month study on a test group has been completed. Approved in 200... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172200 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:53:31 +0100 3172200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149008&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2010%2F01%2F07%2Fcervical-cancer-month%2F Filed under: Prevention, Cervical CancerThe National Cervical Cancer Coalition launched a campaign against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that can cause cervical cancer, this month. Once the number one cancer killer of women, cervical cancer is the only cancer known to be caused by a common virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 4,000 women in America die of cervical cancer every year; and, an estimated 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. Most women become infected with HPV in their teens, 20s or 30s; but, it can take nearly two more decades for cancer to develop. During that time, regular Pap tests can detect HPV-related cell changes before they become cancerous. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologi... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149008 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3149008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146226&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Funcategorized%2Fbumps-on-the-penis-is-a-biopsy-necessary%2F as a urologist i see a lot of patient with growths or bumps on the penis some patients ask do I have cancer? do I need a biopsy?  Most patients with a classic wart or HPV do not need a biopsy, patient who are uncircumcised or recurrent growths may consider a biopsy. Freezing a wart with liquid nitrogen, cauterization, or topical treatments like aldara (imiquimod topical cream) if you have a wart get to a doctor and have it treated.  A biopsy is not a  bad idea but no always necessary thanks for all of stories and questions I hope this site can help you fight your personal war on warts.  the wow team is committed to helping you with the most sensitive topics! click find a physician for a team member physician in your area! (Source: War On Warts) War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146226 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:24:27 +0100 3146226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3137480&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F02%2Ften-years-in-womens-and-reproductive-health-a-bloggy-look-back%2F What with the new year and decade and all, it seems appropriate to engage in a bit of reflection. First, the blog itself. This year will mark the 5th anniversary of Women’s Health News – I first posted on May 19, 2005, although that was at the blogspot location. While this little blog is not among what most people would name as the top medical or top feminist blogs, I don’t worry too much about traffic, or increasing traffic, so long as at least a a few people are finding it useful and I’m not too overworked to deal with it. So, I expect to continue on for a bit longer. Will it make it to the decade mark? Who knows. I do sometimes find the lack of comments discouraging, but it is what it is. If there is anything you’d like to see covered more often, or less of... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3137480 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:04:27 +0100 3137480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119061&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FHin9M-44yk4%2F The big drugmaker apparently caused a stir in India by running ads to create awareness about cervical cancer, but the campaign drew complaints that GlaxoSmithKline was running fomenting fear. Glaxo, you may recall, markets Cervarix, which is used to prevent certain strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. The drugmaker was accused of violating India’s Drugs & Cosmetic Act and the Magical Remedies Act (interesting name, yes?), according to PharmaBiz, which cites unnamed sources saying Glaxo has now told the Drug Controller General of India that the ads will be withdrawn. Medical experts discounted Glaxo’s claim that the ads were launched in public interest to create awareness. “Such advertisements to create public awareness are nor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119061 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:22:00 +0100 3119061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3018938&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F22%2Fweekly-news-round-up-1122%2F Assorted things of interest from the previous week. It’s not nearly as controversial as the USPSTF’s breast cancer screening recommendations, but ACOG released a new practice bulletin on cervical cancer screening. The New York Times has coverage of the change, which is basically that women can wait until up to 21 years of age to start getting Pap tests, and then can get Paps every 2-3 years instead of every year once they’ve had a few normal tests. This is not entirely new – the USPSTF’s 2003 recommendations are very, very similar. (so, 6 years from now, we’ll be cool w/ the breast cancer recs?) Some lots of Vick’s Sinex nasal spray are being recalled due to bacterial contamination. The FDA has tips on holiday food safety. Presented without commen... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3018938 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:40:16 +0100 3018938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015350&cid=t_99520_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FJDJIS71p_bc%2F While we can’t always prevent cancer, we can do things to help reduce the risk of developing it. Of course, we always hear: eat healthy foods, exercise, don’t smoke. But the message doesn’t seem to be getting through because people still eat junk or high fat foods, still don’t exercise and still smoke. The Mayo Clinic published 10 tips to reduce cancer risk in their most recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. Here are the tips and below there’s more explanation: Stop smoking Limit alcohol intake – some alcohol is okay, too much is not Follow recommended intake of fruits and vegetable (daily!) Decrease the amount of fat in your daily diet Lose weight if you’re too heavy, try to gain weight if you’re too thin Move! Get active ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015350 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:12:35 +0100 3015350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012339&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-cdc-reverses-hpv-vaccine-requirement-for-immigration%2F At Our Bodies Our Blog this week, I cover the CDC’s new vaccination criteria for U.S. immigration, which removed HPV and zoster (chicken pox) from the required vaccines. I also have a bit about why the HPV vaccine requirement was problematic, links to previous related posts, and links to organizations for women of color that issued a statement applauding the change. Meanwhile, C’s post on the new mammogram recommendations has useful explanation of the change and a lively comments section. Posted in Access, Rights, & Choice, Boobs, Cancer, Ethics, Global Issues, Government, HPV, Infectious Diseases (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012339 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:10:37 +0100 3012339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008046&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fhpv-vacc-no-longer-a-must-u-s-immigrants%2F There was a huge uproar among women’s groups and immigration groups when news got out that the vaccine against some strains of human papillomavirus, which cause genital warts and may contribute to the development of cancer of the cervix, would be mandatory for any woman who wants to come to the United States to live permanently. What caused this uproar? The same requirement was not place on women who were American citizens. Granted, the United States has the right to make its own rules regarding what vaccinations people must have if they want to live within the U.S. borders. But, this isn’t a case of someone who may bring in a disease or someone living in a less prosperous country who may not have had the vaccines that we take for granted in North America. In the eyes of many, ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008046 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:33:18 +0100 3008046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3004087&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FexZleUM1UZc%2F One more setback for Merck. Immigrant girls and women must no longer get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus in order to get their green cards. Starting Dec. 14, the HPV vaccine won’t be on the list of immunizations female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must receive before becoming legal permanent residents, the Associated Press reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the change last Friday, more than a year after the US Department of Homeland Security began requiring girls and young women who immigrate to the US to get vaccinated with Gardasil, which at the time was the only HPV vaccine available in the US. Recently, the FDA approved GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix. A coalition of more than 100 immigrant, health and women’s advocacy groups challenged th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3004087 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:22:59 +0100 3004087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916440&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvgCad28JxBA%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. Busy week, yes? The earnings season can be overwhelming at times, but also quite interesting. Today is no exception. And so, we must get started. First, however, we must bundle one of the short people off to the school house. So please enjoy these as you start your own day. Hope it’s a good one… Schering-Plough Cholesterol Drugs Slump, Profit Falls (Reuters) Amgen Discloses More Delays For Denosumab (Bloomberg News) Bristol-Myers Sales Rise, But Profits Fall (Associated Press) Novartis Lifts Its Sales Forecast (Bloomberg News) Merck Profits Beats Forecasts (Reuters) ACIP Recommends Gardasil For Boys (NY Times) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916440 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:20:48 +0100 2916440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2905111&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FKJA-jZTfpig%2F This study found that while vaccine coverage and efficacy are high in girls, including boys in an HPV vaccination program generally exceeds what the U.S. typically considers good value for money,” researcher Jane Kim, an assistant professor at the Harvard School of Public Health told HealthDay. And this was released just as the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this week reviews the cost-effectiveness of male vaccination (see agenda). (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2905111 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:17:39 +0100 2905111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902761&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F18%2Fweekly-news-round-up-1018%2F Blog for Choice on the decline in the number of abortion providers in Massachusetts. At D’Alliance, the blog of the Drug Policy Alliance Network, commentary on a recent Marie Claire article on successful women who smoke pot, “Stiletto Stoners.” Earlier this month, Guttmacher released a report on the costs of unsafe abortion in the developing world. The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health has a call for women of color activists to participate in a conversation (via conference call) on Tuesday Oct 20 with the White House to discuss why health reform is so important for women of color. RSVP needed by Monday the 19th. Isis at ScienceBlogs posted about some difficulties of finding tampons in Brooklyn, and – delightfully – every other comment on the... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902761 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:32:04 +0100 2902761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2882766&cid=t_99520_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV053.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, and Alan Dove In episode #53 of the podcast “This Week in Virology”, Vincent, Dick, and Alan talk about Nobel prizes for telomere research, bacteriophages that protect aphids from wasps, salicylates and pandemic influenza mortality, and hand washing. Download TWiV #53 (45 MB .mp3, 62 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV in iTunes, by the RSS feed, or by email Links for this episode: Nobel Prizes for telomere research Bacteriophages encode toxins that protect aphids from wasps 14 year old dies after receiving HPV vaccine Salicylates and pandemic influenza mortality Canadian microbiologist says hand washing is not proven to prevent influenza Surgical mask vs N95 respirator for preventing influenza Americans unsure about receiving pandemic H1N1 ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2882766 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:35:08 +0100 2882766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855666&cid=t_99520_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FEGWTLO6RZJg%2F Whether you agree with the new HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines or not, one has to be fair about the news that comes out about it. Last week, it was widely reported that a 14-year-old British girl died after receiving the Cervarix vaccine. This vaccine is being given to young women and adolescent girls to reduce the risk of contracting some types of HPV, which are known to cause a significant number of cervical cancer cases. Sadly, Natalie, the 14-year-old, became ill shortly after being vaccinated and she died not long after. Of course, it wasn’t hard not to blame the vaccine as it certainly appeared that the cause and effect was there. But after examining Natalie’s body, doctors confirmed that her death was not due to the vaccine, but rather that, Natalie had an undetected... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855666 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:33:02 +0100 2855666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842451&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Fjournal-of-clinical-pathology-2009-vol-62-no-10%2F contents page Fade Fave: Human papillomavirus prevalence and type distribution in penile carcinoma Fade Skinny: Penile carcinoma is an uncommon and potentially mutilating disease with a heterogeneous aetiology. Several risk factors have been established for its development. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection seems to play an important role in the development of a subset of these carcinomas and its presence is thought to be related to the histological type. Finds that half of the penile tumours were associated with HPV 16–18 with little presence of other genotypes. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Access, Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, Current Awareness, E-Journals, E-Mail, NHS Tagged: Athens Password, Cancer, E-Journals, HPV,... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842451 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:11:57 +0100 2842451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741329&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F27%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-kennedy-pregnancy-loss-infertility-and-gardasil%2F Yesterday at Our Bodies Our Blog, Christine wrote about the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy, and OBOS Executive Director Judy Norsigian shared her thoughts on the man (both with an emphasis on healthcare). Christine also alerted us to nine stories on infertility and pregnancy loss from readers of Mrs. Spock now published at Our Bodies Ourselves. Finally, I wrote about the marketing of Gardasil, using information from a piece in a recent issue of JAMA. I have to say, as much as I thought mandates (with generous opt-out provisions) were okay for this one b/c it would get the vaccine paid for for the underserved women who needed it, I’m more that a little perturbed about Merck’s apparent tactic of enlisting (through financing) professional medical organizations to speak positively... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741329 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:19:11 +0100 2741329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626096&cid=t_99520_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FsReaoupkcQM%2F …dies of oral cancer. This is how the website Fight Oral Cancer begins its introduction. Oral cancers, of the tongue, gums, lips or mouth, are in the rise around the world. And the sad fact is that most oral cancers are preventable. According to the American Cancer Society , Most oral cancers could be prevented if people did not use tobacco or drink heavily. Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use sharply reduce any risk of developing oral cancer, even after many years of use. Many oral cancers may be found early by a combination of routine screening examinations by a doctor or dentist and by self-examination. Another cause of oral cancer, of the lips, is the sun. Just as we protect our skin from the harmful rays, we need to protect our lips, using lip balms that contain sun block... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626096 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:52:06 +0100 2626096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2616683&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F19%2Fweekly-news-round-up-13%2F Get off your phone while driving: “Studies say that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated.” I feel like I’ve heard this same finding repeatedly, along with the evidence that hands-free is not a solution because it’s the distraction that’s the problem, and yet… the Times piece talks about how nobody thinks *they* might be a problem. TheFeministBreeder is trying to do some labor/unnecessary intervention-related outreach via Twitter. It’s fraught with peril. It is definitely interesting (maybe not the most appropriate word) to watch people... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2616683 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:37:14 +0100 2616683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891012&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Funcategorized%2Fcdcs-treatment-guidelines%2F Genital infection with low-risk types of HPV is associated with genital warts in men. Infection with high-risk types of HPV is associated with a proportion of preinvasive squamous lesions of the penis (penile intraepithelial neoplasia or PIN) and with penile cancer, as well as with preinvasive squamous lesions of the anus (anal intraepithelial neoplasia or AIN) and with anal cancer. Invasive penile cancer is quite uncommon, especially in circumcised men. In 2002, the age-adjusted incidence rate for penile cancer in the U.S. was 0.8 per 100,000 men (985 new cases). The age-adjusted incidence rate for anal cancer was 1.2 per 100,000 men (1,453 new cases). However, the risk of anal cancer for MSM is significantly higher. Because of the increased incidence of anal cancer in MSM, especially HIV... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891012 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:53:27 +0100 2891012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513393&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fthe-male-pap-smear%2F In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, gay and bisexual men were found to have a significantly higher risk for developing anal cancer, over thirty-five times greater than the general population. HIV-positive men were estimated to be eighty times more likely to get it. Although anal cancer accounts for less than 5 percent of all digestive and intestinal tract cancers, the rates have increased 160 percent over a thirty- year period. Gay African-American men have the sharpest increase and the lowest survival rates. Interestingly, anal cancer in gay men is as common as cervical cancer was in women before the use of the Pap smear, the test that screens for precancerous le... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513393 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:56:41 +0100 2513393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307452&cid=t_99520_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F04%2Fgoogle-runs-anti-vaccination-ads%2F 6minutes.com.au’s Jared Reed recently highlighted the questionable nature of some the Google-sponsored health ads that have proliferated all over the Internet. In the comments section raged a slightly over-the-top arm wrestle between some anti-vaccinationists and a GP from Nowra… I chimed in with a comment: I generally try to avoid having battles of wits with unarmed opponents [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307452 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:05:07 +0100 2307452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261882&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fusing-liquid-nitrogen-to-treat-hpv%2F by: Michelle Lipke Liquid nitrogen is a popular destructive treatment for warts.  It is readily available in both dermatology and primary care offices.   Verucca-Freeze and many similar brands available over the counter are a liquid applied from a spray can, but only freeze to -70C.  Warts may not resolve with the over the counter freezing due to the fact that they do not freeze as fast as the liquid nitrogen available in the clinic setting; as well as the proper application technique may not always be used. The wart virus, known as human papilloma virus (HPV), is not destroyed by the freezing procedure.   Liquid nitrogen freezes at -196C and works by destroying the skin cells which in turn release the wart virus.  They body responds to this process by causing an immune response to ... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261882 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:27:30 +0100 2261882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249455&cid=t_99520_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdisease-risks-of-non-straight-sex%2F   What are the risks of sexual activities other than penile-vaginal intercourse? In recovery from alcoholism, addiction and compulsive gambling many people begin to take more responsibility for their sexual behaviors. Many couples engage in mutual masturbation, oral sex and anal sex instead of penile-vaginal intercourse to prevent pregnancy and avoid catching sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These activities reduce the risk of pregnancy, but most people don’t know that the risk of spreading an STI stays significantly high. Various infections may be spread through blood, saliva, semen, and feces. Different organisms have different risks of being spread, but the risk is always increased with open sores and abrasions, or other breaks in the skin, oral or vaginal lining. Few ind... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249455 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:29:53 +0100 2249455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2097714&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F12%2Fobos-post-organizations-write-the-cdc-to-oppose-hpv-vaccination-requirement%2F Learn more and find out how your organization can sign on to this letter asking the CDC to remove HPV from vaccine requirements for immigrant women, today at Our Bodies Our Blog. Posted in Access, Rights, & Choice, Drugs, Ethics, Government, HPV, Women's Health       (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2097714 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:28:22 +0100 2097714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2096271&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fthe-hpv-vaccine-video%2F (Source: War On Warts) War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2096271 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:39:35 +0100 2096271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040403&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F485686016%2F The drugmaker has sponsored two of Nobel Foundation subsidiaries - Nobel Media, which handles media rights for the prizes, and Nobel Webb, which manages the Nobel Prize site - and also has ties to individuals involved in awarding the Nobel Prize for Medicine, according to Swedish Radio and Badische Zeitgung. The individuals Bo Angelin, a member of the Nobel Committee, sits on the AstraZeneca board, and Bertil Friedholm, representative of the Nobel Committee at the Karolinska Institutet, reportedly held consulting contracts with the drugmaker in 2006. This year, the prize for medicine was awarded to Harald zur Hausen for the discovery of human papillomavirus, or HPV, and AstraZeneca’s MedImmune holds some patents on virus-like particles technology that form the basis of the Gardasil a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040403 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:08:28 +0100 2040403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090931&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fa-urologists-wart-schpeel-to-patients%2F My wart schpeel I see a fair number patient consults for “rule-out HPV” or “rule-out warts.”  The typical scenario is the following: A woman goes to her gynecologist for a routine Pap smear and is told that the results came back positive for HPV.  She is then told by her doctor to have her male partner “checked-out.” What does all that mean and what really happened at that patient’s doctor visit? In a nutshell, the American College of Ob-Gyn recommends that women get periodic Par smears since Pap smears can detect cervical cancer early, and this saves lives.  Pap smears can also detect other disorders such as yeast infections and HPV infections.  HPV is the virus that causes genital warts.  On a Pap smear, the HPV virus produces cells with a characteristic look that mos... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090931 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:32:09 +0100 2090931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011566&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F473498128%2F ‘Tis the middle of the week and that can mean only one thing - the need to dig out from under meetings, deadlines and projects. To help you cope, we have unearthed a few items of interest. Hope your day goes well, no matter what… Merck Shifts Seattle Chief To Boston Lab (Bio-ITWorld) Gardasil Allergic Reactions Are Uncommon: Study (Yahoo/Reuters) Glaxo To Cut 200 Jobs At UK Plant (BBC) Asthma Sufferers Concerned Over New Inhalers (Arizona Republic) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011566 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:19:30 +0100 2011566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006394&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F471402611%2F Unlike many other European countries, Ireland has chosen not to launch a program to vaccine young girls and women, prompting Glaxo, which sells Cervarix, and Sanofi-Pasteur, which markets Merck’s Gardasil in Europe, to fly in experts to talk to consultants and public health care professionals about the benefits of their HPV vaccines, according to The Times of London. Ireland’s health department cited administrative costs as its reason for not proceeding. A spokeswoman for health minister Mary Harney tells the Times she is already convinced of the important role a vaccine program would play “as part of a cohesive response” to cervical cancer, but the “decision not to proceed at this point is not based on the scientific evidence, but is related to the need to prioritize... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006394 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:26:07 +0100 2006394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090935&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fa-vaccine-for-boys-to-help-girls%2F As a parent of a school-age daughter, I haven’t decided what to think about the new cervical cancer vaccine. That’s why I was interested to learn the shot may soon be given to boys primarily to benefit girls. Merck’s Gardasil vaccine is approved for use in girls and women, ages 9 to 26, to protect them against the human papillomavirus, or H.P.V., which causes cervical cancer. Girls can be vaccinated when they are as young as 9, although it’s recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds, before they are sexually active. But as my colleague Jan Hoffman reported yesterday in the Sunday Style section of The Times, the vaccine could be approved by 2009 for boys as well. Although Gardasil also protects against genital warts, which are not life-threatening, the primary reason to extend approval ... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090935 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:51:35 +0100 2090935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090936&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2008%2F11%2Finfo-about-warts-video%2F (Source: War On Warts) War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090936 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:47:23 +0100 2090936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090937&cid=t_99520_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fhuman-papilloma-virus-of-the-cervix-what-about-my-partner%2F If you have been diagnosed with HPV of the Cervix, it is very important that your partner be examined by a health care provider who specializes in the treatment of HPV infection. Recent studies have shown that the male sexual partner of a woman with HPV or cervical dysplasia has a 60% chance of having HPV infection of the penis. This infection most frequently can only be detected with magnification as the lesions are very tiny. Male HPV infection must be treated in order to prevent re-infection of the female partner. In addition, untreated male HPV may eventually lead to cancer of the penis. (Source: War On Warts) War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090937 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:15:06 +0100 2090937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955499&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F449932676%2F A trio of academics is joining the debate over the notion requiring girls to be vaccinated with Merck’s Gardasil is not a good idea. And in a recent issue of the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Gail Javitt of Johns Hopkins’s Berman Institute of Bioethics, Deena Berkowitz of George Washington University School of Medicine and Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University Law Center they offer five reasons.. The long-term safety and effectiveness is unknown; historical justifications for mandated vaccination have not been met; in the absence of historical justification, the government risks public backlash by mandating vaccination; mandatory vaccination for girls - and not boys - may violate constitutional principles of equality and due process; and there are unresolved economic c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955499 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:33:15 +0100 1955499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1938926&cid=t_99520_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fnews-and-facts-about-oral-cancer%2F Early this year, we learned that the human papilloma virus (HPV-16), a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer in women, also contributes to the incidence of oral cancer in men. Merck & Co. offers the only HPV vaccine, but it is available for young women, not young men. New research has prompted the company to pursue government approval to extend the inoculation to males, as well. Usually, oral cancer is thought to be a disease contracted by older people who smoke and drink - those in the high-risk group. The disease commonly affects people who are not considered high risk, though. Oral cancer screenings save lives. Here are the facts: In the US, oral cancer strikes about 35,000 people per year In the US, about 7,500 people die from oral cancer each year Once ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1938926 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:48:24 +0100 1938926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1915071&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F433526699%2F Never mind that a recent study found its HPV vaccine isn’t cost effective for women over 18 years old and that the FDA earlier this year rejected Gardasil for women between the ages of 27 and 45 (back story), Merck continues to push for widespread vaccination for adult women. Over the weekend, researchers told the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America that an aggressive strategy of vaccinating older women could cripple cervical cancer, which is traced to HPV. Using a mathematical model, they showed that vaccinating women in the US by ages 12 through 45 against HPV could reduce cervical cancer cases by up to 55 percent for 45-year-old women, Reuters writes. The Reuters story, by the way, failed to note the speaker, Warner Huh of the Universi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1915071 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:35:49 +0100 1915071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1906166&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F429797140%2F Amid ongoing controversy over the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday declared that Gardasil is not likely the cause of numerous adverse events. “Based on all of the information we have today, the CDC and FDA have determined that Gardasil is safe to use and effective in preventing 4 types of HPV,” the CDC says. The decision came after both adverse event reports and data from the first post-marketing safety study was presented to a CDC panel. The study looked at 375,000 doses of the vaccine from August 20, 2006, the year Gardasil was approved, to July 20, 2008, in girls and women ages 9 to 26 (here is the statement). As of August 31, there were 10,326 adverse events reported in the US, of which 94 percent were con... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1906166 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:47:50 +0100 1906166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892145&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F425618832%2F There are reports from the Netherlands that the Health Inspectorate raided the drugmakers’ offices late last week as part of an investigation into the Health Council, an independent body that advises the Dutch government and parliament on public health issues, and recently recommended that girls should be vaccinated against HPV (look here). In Europe, Sanofi-Aventis markets Gardasil, as part of a joint venture with Merck, and Glaxo markets Cervarix, which is not yet approved in the US. Both vaccines are given to treat HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. The reports say that Health Council members were receiving research funding from the drugmakers at the same time the organization issued its recommendation to Health Minister Ab Klink. The Socialist Party is demanding a parliament... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892145 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:22:45 +0100 1892145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1871110&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F416662942%2F Whether this means Merck’s HPV vaccine is making great inroads is unclear, but Gardasil does appear to be on its way to becoming accepted, according to the first federal government study of vaccination rates for the controversial shot. The vaccine protects against strains of the human papillomavirus that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. Federal health officials recommend girls get the shots when they are 11 or 12, if possible, before becoming sexually active (here is the info from the CDC’s Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report). Vaccine proponents had been hoping for higher vaccination rates, contending Gardasil can reduce the nearly 4,000 cervical cancer deaths that occur each year in the US, but many families are cautious about the safety of new vaccines, Patti... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1871110 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:05:05 +0100 1871110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933525&cid=t_99520_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2FLA7hShQVqP4%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Other Articles You May LikeWorld AIDS DayOf Mice, Men and the Nobel Prize for MedicineFunding of Childhood Cancer, NF Research in JeopardyFlat Funding of Biomedical Research: The Threat to America’s HealthNew Common Cold Virus Variant Deadly (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933525 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:56:23 +0100 1933525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829480&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F402067398%2F A Roman Catholic school in the UK has banned its students from receiving the Cervarix vaccine on its premises, the BBC reports. Governors at St Monica’s High School in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, believe the school is “not the right place” to administer the injections. The Roman Catholic Church says there is nothing wrong with allowing vaccinations, according to the BBC, but governors at St Monica’s, which has 1,200 pupils, sent a letter to parents questioning effectiveness and pointed out possible side effects. The letter says a number students who took part in a pilot study subsequently suffered nausea, joint pain, headaches and high fevers. “We do not believe that school is the right place for the three injections to be administered,” the letter ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829480 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:19:00 +0100 1829480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798532&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F393115508%2F Welcome to the working week. We hope your weekend was pleasant and there was time to catch up on the important things in life. Now, of course, the routine returns with all those meetings and deadlines and political intrigue. Should be enough to keep anyone busy. So, time to get started… Scotland’s Catholic Schools Approve Use Of Glaxo HPV Vaccine (Catholic Exchange) Walgreens Tops CVS Bid For Longs Drug Stores (Yahoo/Associated Press) Data Supports Glaxo’s Tykerb For Head & Neck Cancer (Reuters) Cholesterol Drug Scientist Receives ‘America’s Nobel’ (Scientific American) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798532 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:10:20 +0100 1798532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790482&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F391130279%2F Perhaps this will fan the controversy over the HPV vaccine still more. In any event, the agency expanded Gardasil’s approved uses to include cancer of the vagina and vulva, but at the same time added new info to the prescribing label about reports of deaths and illnesses. Overall, though, the move gives Merck a boost over Glaxo, whose Cervarix HPV vaccine was delayed last year by the FDA. Gardasil was approved to protect females ages 9 to 26 against four strains of HPV, which can cause up to 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts. Docs, however, have needed incentives and Wall Street is disappointed with Gardasil revenue. You may recall that a recent study found Gardasil makes economic sense for preteens because they are less likely to have the sexually transm... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790482 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:14:10 +0100 1790482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1786181&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F388696033%2F There are at least four - count ‘em, four - issues that are plaguing Merck and prompting Sanford Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson to downgrade the shares. In an investor note this morning, he writes the stock has already hit his $36 price target and has little upside. Why? Let’s see… Reasons To Be Doubtful, Number One: The Singular allergy med. Prescription trends are lagging, there is an ongoing FDA safety review that could report out at year’s end (look here), and the potential that Teva does an ‘at risk launch of a generic next year; Reasons To Be Doubtful, Number Two: Sales trends for the Gardasil HPV vaccine have been weak for the last few quarters in the three territories reported by Merck (background here and here. Reasons To Be Doubtful, Number Three: Th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786181 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:06:03 +0100 1786181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1760167&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F381421958%2F A new study looking at young women in Australia who were vaccinated with Merck’s HPV vaccine shows they were five to 20 times more likely to suffer from anaphylaxis than girls in comparable school-based programs, although the study authors, nonetheless, conclude the vaccine is still “remarkably safe.” The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, looked at 114,000 women. They found 12 suspected cases of anaphylaxis, and confirmed eight in a 2007 vaccination program. Symptoms included difficulty in breathing, nausea and rashes, PharmaTimes writes. (We will provide a link to the study as soon as it becomes available). The reasons for an increased rate of anaphylaxis may include possible allergic reaction to the vaccine components or enhanced adverse even... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760167 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:47:54 +0100 1760167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739488&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F377367238%2F First, there was the Gardasil beach towel, an attractive terry velour model that advertised to beachgoers that you’re free of a sexually transmitted disease. A nifty way to tout the advantages of the HPV vaccine. Now, Merck is trying a new way to grab the attention of teenagers and younger adult women with a specially created line of Gardasil jewelry. As CNBC’s Mike Huckman notes, you can pay $32 for any of four “limited edition” bangles designed by Carolyn Rafaelian, a designer with Alex and Ani. The proceeds will go to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The Charm4Life campaign is designed to raise awareness of cervical cancer. Gardasil, to be technical about all this, is supposed to thwart the most significant strains of HPV, or human papillomavirus, which can lead t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739488 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:47:12 +0100 1739488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730772&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F374190073%2F Welcome to the working week. Although this week may prove to be a bit slow here and there. It is vacation time, after all. Nonetheless, we are poking around for interesting items. So settle in and catch up with the latest… Study Finds Ideas About Sex Don’t Bar Gardasil Use (The Houston Chronicle) Pfizer Drops NicOx Glaucoma Drug For Asian Study (Yahoo/Finance) India To Review Daiichi Bid For Ranbaxy (Bloomberg News) Bristol-Myers Employees Charged With Forging Tuition Reimbursement (MyCentralNewJersey.com) Indonesian Drug Prices Soar On Raw Materials (The Jakarta Post) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730772 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:26:24 +0100 1730772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729474&cid=t_99520_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F373063230%2F More proof that we need extended studies before blanket recommendations are made for targeting the entire population rather than “high risk” (in this case most likely to benefit) group. A new study suggests that giving Merck & Co.’s cervical-cancer vaccine Gardasil to women through their mid-20s may not be worth the price, despite U.S. recommendations that this age group receive the costly shot. The study, published online Wednesday by The New England Journal of Medicine, comes as Merck already is having difficulty persuading college-age and older women to get the vaccine, which was introduced in 2006 and costs about $360 for a three-dose regimen. This has contributed to a slowdown in Gardasil sales, casting a cloud on Merck’s financial outlook. Study Questions ... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729474 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:15:54 +0100 1729474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1720549&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F370874413%2F That’s the conclusion of a new study that is going to make life much harder for Merck to wring needed sales out of its controversial HPV vaccine. The study, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, comes as the drugmaker is already struggling to convince college-age and older women to get the vaccine, which costs about $360 for a three-dose regimen. The vaccine, which was approved for girls and young women ages 9 to 26, makes economic sense for preteens because they are less likely to have the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, according to the study. But the cost and benefit depends on how long Gardasil’s protection will last. Here is the study, although Merck contends the vaccine is cost effective for women through age 24. The analysis predic... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1720549 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:05:08 +0100 1720549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717570&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F369246246%2F As Gardasil revenue disappoints, the drugmaker is scrambling for ways to boost (pun intended) sales of the controversial HPV vaccine. So Merck is now promising docs a free replacement dosage if an insurer refuses coverage, according to Maggie McGlynn, who heads Merck’s vaccines business and mentioned the effort during a conference call with institutional investors arranged by Deutsche Bank today. Unfortunately for Merck, too many docs have been asking their patients to first check with their health insurers to see if the shots would be covered. As you can imagine, this led to fewer shots. So McGlynn told the crowd that by having the replacement program, “they will convert to same-day vaccination.” However, this only applies to women between 19 and 26 years old, since younger... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717570 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:18:58 +0100 1717570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696501&cid=t_99520_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F11%2Fthe-cultural-situation-of-the-hpv-vaccine%2F Situationist Contributors Dan Kahan, Geoffrey Cohen, and Paul Slovic and their coauthors Donald Braman, and John Gastil, recently posted a fascinating paper, “Who Fears the HPV Vaccine, Who Doesn’t, and Why? An Experimental Study of the Mechanisms of Cultural Cognition” on SSRN. Here’s the abstract. * * * The cultural cognition hypothesis holds that individuals are disposed to form risk perceptions that reflect and reinforce their commitments to contested views of the good society. This paper reports the results of a study that used the controversy over mandatory HPV vaccination to test the cultural cognition hypothesis. Although public health officials have recommended that all girls aged 11 or 12 be vaccinated for HPV - a virus that causes cervical cancer and tha... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696501 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:15:54 +0100 1696501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646369&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F342901712%2F In response to ongoing reports of adverse events associated with the HPV vaccine, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control reviewed side effect reports and today issued a statement indicating Gardasil continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks. The joint agency review found 94 percent of side effects reported after vaccination were not serious, and these reports included syncope (fainting), pain at the injection site, headache, nausea and fever. Fainting is common after injections and vaccinations, especially in adolescents, the agencies noted. There were also 20 deaths reported, but no common pattern that would suggest these were caused by the vaccine. In cases where autopsy, death certificate and medical records were available, the cause of dea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646369 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:57:56 +0100 1646369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642249&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F21%2Foh-yeah-2%2F Speaking of RHRealityCheck, I forgot to mention that a piece I did for OBOS on media coverage of Gardasil was republished there last week. Thanks to the RHRC folks! [I so want the Kool-Aid dude to burst through this post. Oh yeah!] (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642249 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:33:02 +0100 1642249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1593719&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F07%2Fhpv-vaccine-update-dangerous-to-girls.html Readers of SHS will recall when the HPV vaccine first came out and with it, a great political push made by business interests and those of a certain cultural persuasion that expected (wanted?) teenage girls to be sexually active to require all girls to receive the vaccine. That effort stalled, and from my perspective, that's a good thing on several levels. One is that the vaccine may have serious side effects. From the story:Ault explains why youth is key. Human papillomavirus is sexually transmitted, "so one of the advantages of giving it to adolescents is that they are unlikely to have been sexually active, so they will not have been exposed to the virus before getting the vaccine." Another reason to do this early, Ault points out, is that "our immune system is a lot better when we are 1... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1593719 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100 1593719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1556509&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F323346511%2F As a result, the Cervarix vaccine may not become available until mid or late 2009, at the earliest. You may recall that, last December, the FDA issued a so-called ‘complete response letter’ for Glaxo’s HPV vaccine, which would compete with Merck’s Gardasil, but it was unclear at the time whether additional clinical trials would be required. Today, the drugmaker says new clinical studies are not expected to be required for approval, but other data will submitted. Specifically, this would be final data from a Phase III pivotal efficacy study, which should be available later this year and submitted to the FDA in the first half of 2009, although exact timing is hard to predict. And with another six-month review period, Cervarix won’t be on the market until late 2009, at t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556509 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:27:25 +0100 1556509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543343&cid=t_99520_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F319775023%2Fgardasil_gets_fda_non-approval_for_expanded_use.html Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not approve the company's application to expand the use of Gardasil to include women between the ages of 27 and 45.Gardasil, a cervical cancer vaccine, was previously approved by the FDA in 2006 for women between the ages of 9 and 27 and the non-acceptance of the expanded use does not affect that approval. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543343 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:00:12 +0100 1543343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543932&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F319728360%2F For Merck, this is ‘one less’ approval. The agency bounced the drugmaker’s request to approve its HPV vaccine for women between ages 27 and 45, citing “issues that preclude approval within the expected review timeframe,” but there was no more specific info provided in Merck’s statement. The drugmaker says it has already discussed with the FDA the questions related to the application and expects to respond to the agency next month. Gardasil, you may recall, was approved in 2006 for girls and women between 9 and 26 years old to prevent human papillomarivus, or HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus. Merck, however, added the FDA identified several issues related to the application in a “complete response” lett... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543932 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:04:05 +0100 1543932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488698&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F303135568%2F What a difference a year makes. Last year, Merck was under fire for aggressively promoting its HPV vaccine by convincing lawmakers, such as the governor of Texas and legislators who belong to Women In Government, to get behind mandatory vaccination. The heavy-handed effort backfired, briefly obscuring a meaningful discussion of health benefits and sullying the drugmaker’s reputation. And so Merck scaled back its more visible lobbying, although Gardasil ads continued to run. Now, the drugmaker is getting aggressive again - especially with consumers. Starting this past Saturday and running through June 26, Gardasil ads are appearing in theaters showing ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Get Smart,’ ‘The Happening,’ ‘You Don’t Mess With The Zohan,&#8217... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488698 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:19:23 +0100 1488698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2192710&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fto-vaccinate-or-not-to-vaccinate-hpv.html Recently, a friend of mine told me that she had her thirteen-year-old daughter get the new HPV vaccine Gardasil ... just in case. While I wasn't studied up on the vaccine, I did let her know that I heard that it may not be a good idea. I had nothing concrete to back up my claim so I bit my tongue. She didn't seem convinced that it was the right move either, but with all the marketing promoting it as a great measure of prevention, she felt guilty not having her daughter get the vaccine.Well, today I found a reliable source explaining the serious consequences of the HPV vaccine and why it's not really necessary. If you are thinking about having your daughter or yourself vaccinated against HPV, please take the time to read what natural health physician Dr. Joseph Mercola has to say on this is... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2192710 Tue, 27 May 2008 20:37:00 +0100 2192710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1458896&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F294771876%2F Okay, moment of truth… Earlier today I asked my 59-year-old mother and 5-year-old son to draw the 2 winners of the “Take The Test” HPV Awareness Bracelet Contest. …and the winners are: Kendra Alicia Before I can take an evidence of the little draw, my son tore the little pieces of paper where the winners’ names were. But then, you ladies won. You two know how drop me a line, so please so as soon as possible and give me your shipping addresses. Both of you each won one “Take The Test” HPV Awareness Bracelet. Once again, thanks so much to The HPV Test who provided this blog and blogger with the give-away stuff (thru Anna Brew, thanks Anna). One more contest coming soon, c/o The HPV Test. Thanks a lot to those who participated. Let us continue to spread the word on t... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1458896 Wed, 21 May 2008 04:31:59 +0100 1458896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446513&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F291385749%2F Yes..I was about to get up and call it a weekend when I suddenly remembered the contest I was running here: The “Take The Test” HPV Awareness Bracelet contest. So far, i have four valid contestants. Because of that and because I wouldn’t be online much, I will extend the contest to Monday, 19th May 2008 (GMT+8) at 23.59. I will announce the winners on Wednesday, May 21. Thanks a lot., please join if you haven’t done so already. Tags: "Take The Test" HPV Awareness Bracelet, hpv, The HPV TestShare This (Source: Cancer Commentary) Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446513 Fri, 16 May 2008 03:56:55 +0100 1446513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1437151&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F288556249%2F In a separate post, I already mentioned The Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test. It is interesting to know that Stanford University School of Medicine is investigating an investigational study of the this genomics-based diagnostic test for hard-to-identify tumors — The Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test. The new test uses advanced genomics-based technology to help physicians determine a tumor’s origin in order to optimize cancer-specific treatment. The study will evaluate the test’s ability to impact diagnosis for cancer patients with hard-to-identify tumors, with test samples processed at the Stanford University School of Medicine’s laboratory. According to Dr. Iris Schrijver, Director of Molecular Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine: “Hard-to-identify tumors are ... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1437151 Mon, 12 May 2008 09:09:03 +0100 1437151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1420683&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F283880925%2F Where has the month of April gone? Time really does fly. April was STD Awareness Month and it is better late than never to mention it here,just now. To kick off the month of April, I am running a contest wherein 2 winners will each win a “Take The Test” HPV Awareness Bracelet. Contest Mechanics: Leave a comment to this post until 1159 PM (GMT+8) on May 16, 2008. 1 unique commenter = 1 contest entry which i will raffle from a “hat”, the old-fashioned way. Winners (2) will be announced the next day (May 17, 2008) in a blog post. The winners will than have to drop me a line at gloria.g@b5media.com within 24 hours. Else, I will be drawing a new winner. This contest is open to all readers of this blog, wherever you may be in the world. It’s that easy. You guys ha... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1420683 Mon, 05 May 2008 12:02:06 +0100 1420683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419708&cid=t_99520_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F04%2Fthe-second-national-risk-and-culture-study-abstract%2F Situationist contributor Dan Kahan, Donald Braman, Situationist contributor Paul Slovic, John Gastil, and Geoffrey Cohen posted their paper, “The Second National Risk and Culture Study: Making Sense of - and Making Progress In - The American Culture War of Fact” on SSRN. We’ve pasted the abstract below. * * * Cultural Cognition refers to the disposition to conform one’s beliefs about societal risks to one’s preferences for how society should be organized. Based on surveys and experiments involving some 5,000 Americans, the Second National Risk and Culture Study presents empirical evidence of the effect of this dynamic in generating conflict about global warming, school shootings, domestic terrorism, nanotechnology, and the mandatory vaccination of school-age g... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419708 Sun, 04 May 2008 21:00:20 +0100 1419708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1401385&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F278270428%2Fadding-to-our-collection-of-posts-about.html Adding to our collection of posts about Gardasil and the HPV vaccine is the news that HPV is one of two viral links to lung cancer. Two new studies suggest that viruses - specifically, HPV and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1401385 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:21:18 +0100 1401385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1314432&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F254359690%2F The FDA will consider whether to expand the HPV vaccine for women between 27 and 45 years old, according to a statement from the drugmaker. You may recall that Gardasil is currently approved for use in girls and women between 9 and 26 years old to block four types of humanpapilloma virus, which can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts. A decision is expected this summer. This, of course, would greatly increase the market for Gardasil. The question then becomes what kind of marketing campaign will Merck employ to promote the vaccine. The news comes, by the way, a year after the controversy over its aggressive marketing push. At that time, Merck attempted to influence Women In Government, which actively promotes the vaccine. Several legislators around the country who belong to the non-p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1314432 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:58:58 +0100 1314432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311112&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F253628957%2Fquarter-of-teenage-girls-test-positive.html I'm just going to sit here and sip my coffee and let that title, and that statistic, sink in for a moment. A quarter of teenage girls test positive for sexually transmitted diseases. Go ahead and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311112 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:13:13 +0100 1311112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1295912&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F11%2Fshocking-1-in-4-teenage-girls-has-an-std%2F A CDC study was released today at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference that reported that, among 800+ girls ages 14-19 examined in 2003-2004 for chlamydia, HPV, herpes, and trichomonas, nearly 26% had at least one of these sexually transmitted infections. 1 in 4. Seriously. And they didn’t even count HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis… Yikes. Among those with any STD, 15% had more than one, and nearly 25% had bacterial vaginosis, regardless of reported sexual activity. Strangely, the rate was 39.5% among those who actually admitted having sex, so a percentage of these girls both had a sexually transmitted infection and denied having had sex. I’m assuming that some were lying, and some simply weren’t counting oral sex and the like. The full study isn’t available... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1295912 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:39:59 +0100 1295912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1294967&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F249682997%2F One in four American women between the ages of 14 and 19 has a sexually transmitted disease, according to the first national study to look at their combined prevalence, the CDC said. That figure — alarming on its face — is worth a closer look. The majority of those cases are infections with strains of a virus, human papillomavirus, that are associated with genital warts and cancer. But most people who get infected with HPV never know it, because the virus goes away without causing any health problems. “It is important to realize that most HPV infections clear on their own,” noted a summary of the study that the CDC emailed to us. Indeed, several common infections lumped into the big bin labeled “STD” can have mild or no effects on many patients — ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1294967 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:27:06 +0100 1294967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1271787&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F02%2Fdating-websites-for-singles-with-sexually-transmitted-infections%2F Dating websites for people with STDs (or in the more modern parlance, STIs) might be a sound business model, given rising rates of some STIs, but are users getting a good deal? If you’re not familiar with this phenomenon, they are your normal dating site, but are specifically intended for use by people with infections such as herpes, HPV, and HIV. Nerve magazine has a piece up on the topic, and explores whether these services liberate users from the stigma of sexually transmitted infections and potentially embarrassing proclamations, or if they might actually increase stigma by suggesting that “those persons are different and not normal, requiring exceptional means to meet other partners.” The article fails to mention one major concern people might have about using a sit... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1271787 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:49:13 +0100 1271787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1257819&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F26%2Fon-gardasil-mandates-vaccination-rates-and-annoying-websites%2F Newsweek has a current piece asking why Gardasil vaccination rates are less than might have been anticipated. Don’t run off to read the story just yet, though, for two reasons: 1) there’s nothing new in this piece, which reminds us that the shots are expensive, people are afraid it will turn their daughters in sluts, not enough people understand the HPV/cervical cancer connection, and so on; 2) doing so will bombard your ears with an automatically launched video and sound on the unrelated beef recall story. Dear website managers everywhere: Please don’t force me to listen to and turn off video or audio on your site just because I went there, especially if it’s unrelated to the story I’m reading. I don’t pop into your office and start blathering about th... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1257819 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:14:25 +0100 1257819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1255109&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F241032107%2Fis-gardasil-responsible-mandate.html If the common goals between the public and the pharmaceutical giant Merck in the controversy over compulsory HPV vaccination were long-term cost containment and public safety by reduction and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1255109 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:40:11 +0100 1255109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215323&cid=t_99520_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F230866038%2Fshould-hpv-vaccine-be-mandated.html We've discussed the HPV vaccine and why we think it should (or should not) be a mandatory vaccination - for both women and men (an argument we were making long before last week's study showed... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215323 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:22:39 +0100 1215323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215497&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F230982477%2F Sanofi-Pasteur is criticizing Glaxo’s new Cervarix in an attempt to bolster its lead in the burgeoning market for HPV vaccines, The Financial Times writes. The vaccine maker, which sells Merck’s Gardasil in Europe, has been wooing investors this week with presentations claiming greater proven health benefits from Gardasil in preventing human papilloma virus infections, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Didier Hoch, who heads a joint venture between Sanofi-Aventis and Merck for European vaccine marketing, says published Glaxo results on Cervarix were less conclusive and dismissed as “a marketing gimmick” a clinical study that directly compares the two products. He lambasted the head-to-head study of Cervarix and Gardasil for its small sample size, use of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215497 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:33:03 +0100 1215497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215151&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2Flike-plastic-or-paper-but-for-your-vagina%2F I’m watching the video of the HPV vaccine mandate panel discussion from the other night, and Texas Representative Jessica Farrar, who worked to get the HPV vaccine included in school requirements, is talking about a conversation with another Rep who sponsored legislation banning such a mandate. Says Farrar: “Rep. Dennis Bonnen said, ‘Well, the answer to this is that women should just get more pap smears.’ My response to this was that, well, first I asked him if he preferred plastic or metal, but he had no idea what I was talking about.” Heh. Of course, she goes on to explain that vaccines are for prevention, while pap smears are for screening/detection (and access to healthcare is obviously an issue there), but it’s a funny moment in the discussion. More... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215151 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:20:45 +0100 1215151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1206650&cid=t_99520_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F05%2Fpanel-discussion-tonight-on-public-school-hpv-vaccine-mandates-nashville-tn%2F I’m going to have to pass on this due to the election, but Vanderbilt is hosting a forum discussion of HPV vaccine mandates in public schools tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Flynn Auditorium of the Vanderbilt Law School. The discussion “will focus on the debate over efforts by several states to mandate the inoculation of public school students with Gardasil, which protects against certain types of the human papilloma virus, or HPV.” According to the release: The panel is moderated by Josh Perry, adjunct professor of law and assistant professor of medical education and administration at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and features: Dr. Todd Callahan, assistant professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine specialist at Vanderbilt; Jessica Farrar, a Texas state representati... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1206650 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:02:54 +0100 1206650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199989&cid=t_99520_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F229042901%2F  Human Papilloma Virus  Further to my article on UK school girls being vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), there is mounting evidence that the HPV immunization program should be extended to males. HPV is known to cause cervical cancer in women, and there are vaccination programs in many countries to immunize girls and young women against the strains of HPV that are thought to cause over 70 per cent of cervical cancers, for which there are 12,000 new cases and nearly 4,000 deaths in the US alone every year. Previous research has already shown there is a risk of a range of genital and oral cancers in men also resulting from HPV infection, but as yet there are no immunization programs for men against HPV.   A  study by researchers at John Hopkins University in the US su... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199989 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:22:57 +0100 1199989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156938&cid=t_99520_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F218040975%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Related articlesLack of Health Insurance Increases Risk of Cancer DeathDecrease in US Cancer DeathsThe Best of Highlight HEALTH 2007 - The Year in ReviewQuitWinLive - The Great American SmokeoutSmoking Duration vs. Intensity and the Impact on Lung Cancer Risk (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156938 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:48:00 +0100 1156938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149830&cid=t_99520_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F216553797%2F Another busy Monday morning. We hope yours is going as well as ours. As we track various interesting developments, here are a few more items to help you prepare for the rest of the day… USPTO Rejects Pfizer’s Basic Lipitor Patent (Yahoo/Reuters) France Backs Use Of Merck’s Gardasil Over Glaxo HPV Vaccine (Yahoo/Reuters) Maryland Court Rejects Thimerosal-Autism Link In Wyeth Vaccine (Yahoo/Reuters) Avalon Pharma Signs Development Deal With Novartis (The Baltimore Sun) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149830 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:48:36 +0100 1149830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1059933&cid=t_99520_88_f&fid=34729&url=http%3A%2F%2Fallscrubbedup.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fworld-famous-all-scrubbed-up-what-is_29.html Congratulations EmergencyEmm!Human Papilloma Virus is not rare. This guy had an immune deficiency which allowed a fairly common infection (warts) to get out of hand.An extract from the original article:After testing samples of the lesions and Dede's blood, Dr Anthony Gaspari of the University of Maryland concluded that his affliction is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a fairly common infection that usually causes small warts to develop on sufferers.Dede's problem is that he has a rare genetic fault that impedes his immune system, meaning his body is unable to contain the warts.The virus was therefore able to "hijack the cellular machinery of his skin cells", ordering them to produce massive amounts of the substance that caused the tree-like growths known as "cutaneous horns" on ... All Scrubbed Up blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1059933 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:05:00 +0100 1059933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044208&cid=t_99520_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F188576210%2F The Digene® HPV Test is the only such test approved by the FDA that uses advanced molecular technology to detect the DNA (genetic material) of 13 high-risk types of HPV (the virus shown to actually cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer.) Approved by the FDA in 2003 for cervical cancer screening in conjunction with a Pap, in women age 30 and older - Digene® HPV Test – is based on proprietary “Hybrid Capture” technology, which combines two innovations from the rapidly evolving field of life sciences – DNA/RNA probes and monoclonal antibodies – to allow rapid, standardized gene testing in virtually any laboratory setting. Sounds great. I only have one question: Do most insurance providers in the U.S. cover this HPV test? ( Because I am not based in the U.S, and where I am i... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044208 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:37:54 +0100 1044208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012382&cid=t_99520_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F181156305%2Fscientist_make_the_connection_between_oral_sex_and_throat_cancer_true.html In an almost too funny to be true story, MS Health news has an article that possibly linked some throat cancers to oral sex.The study conducted by Dr. Erich Sturgis, an associate professor of head and neck surgery and epidemiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston suggests that HPV (Human papillomavirus) is the reason."Smoking prevalence has dropped dramatically, and, likewise, most head and neck cancers have declined in incidence. Cancers at the base of the tongue and tonsil are increasing or have remained stagnant. We're not seeing the reduction in incidence that we would have expected," said Sturgis.HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that is believed to be responsible for most cervical cancers. There has been a big push to vacc... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012382 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:30:13 +0100 1012382