Questions Raised In Vietnam About Pair Of HPV Vaccine Approvals
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Vietnam authorities are looking into suspicions medical companies lobbied the government unethically to approve two vaccines against cervical cancer. They include Merck's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix. Vietnamese cancer associations are raising questions about the lobbying during the approval process for vaccines that may not be as effective as touted in staving off the human papilloma virus often responsible for cervical cancer. A GSK official said its application was the same it has sent to approval authorities in other countries and it made no special effort in Vietnam. But a Health Ministry official said Vietnam should consider the questions about effectiveness of both vaccines and continue to restrict it for women between ages 10 and 55. (Click here for more