Glaxo’s cervical cancer vaccine

faces US battle

femalereproductiveorgans

New studies show the vaccine Cervarix blocks the virus that causes cervical cancer, but if it wins approval for U.S. sales, it will face an uphill battle against Gardasil, which has owned the market  for three years.

Cervarix, Glaxo’s vaccine against human papilloma virus or HPV, already is approved in more than 90 other countries, but has been held up by delays in the United States. Several years ago, the British drugmaker was in a neck-and-neck race with rival Merck & Co., Gardasil’s maker, to be first on the U.S. market, but it lost when Gardasil got approved in June 2006.

Late in 2007, U.S. regulators said they wouldn’t approve Cervarix without additional data. from n extensive  study still in progress at the time.

Final results from that 18,000-women study and two others are being presented this weekend at a conference in Sweden on papillomavirus. The data was submitted to the Food and Drug Administration on March 30, and FDA is expected to decide whether to approve Cervarix within several months.

If it does, analyst Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said doctors who have prescribed Gardasil for a few years may see no reason to switch – unless GlaxoSmithKline convinces them its product is much more effective or has fewer side effects.

Both vaccines target the two types of HPV that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers, types 16 and 18, and data indicate both are about 98 percent effective. But Merck also has data showing Gardasil blocks two other HPV types that cause most cases of genital warts that Cervarix does not target.

That will be a key factor for doctors, experts said.

“All else being equal, it’s a no-brainer for the doctor, (who) wants to give the most efficacious treatment,” Gordon said.

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Despite Merck owning the U.S. market, Gardasil racked up only $262 million in global sales in the most recent quarter, versus $320 million for Cervarix, which has won more contracts from government health programs in other countries.

Partial results of the new Cervarix studies released to The Associated Press indicate it also offers good protection against 12 other HPV types.

One of the studies, which looked at looked at levels of antibodies to some HPV types after study participants were vaccinated with Cervarix or Gardasil, found higher antibody levels induced by Cervarix. But Dr. Gary Dubin, head of one of Glaxo’s clinical development centers, said that doesn’t prove Cervarix is more effective.

New data will be presented at the same conference on Gardasil, indicating it blocks HPV 16 for at least 9 1/2 years, according to Merck. Glaxo has followed women for up to 7 1/2 years and continues to test some to see if they develop cervical lesions or cancer.

Dr. Cynthia Rand, a researcher, pediatrician and associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical School, said Cervarix appears to be effective. But she said the higher antibody levels triggered by Cervarix, compared with Gardasil, might be meaningless. She said doctors don’t know if they will have to give booster shots years from now for either vaccine.

“It won’t change my practice” of giving Gardasil and likely won’t do so for other doctors, said Rand, whose university has patent claims and receives some royalties related to both vaccines. “Pediatricians prefer in general to also protect against genital warts.“

Associated Press

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 9th May 2009

Craving a cigarette?

How about 4,000 lethal chemicals?

New poster puts smoking hazards gives you a realty check.

So you think smoking is OK. Think again. Facts now revealed.

A global information design consultancy, has created “Put It Out,” an illustrated poster showing in no uncertain terms the lethal chemicals — including arsenic, methane and formaldehyde — ingested from each cigarette and what some of the harsh health facts are surrounding smoking. The 11×17? poster can be viewed and downloaded at www.xplane.com/4000.

DO NOT SMOKE POSTER

DO NOT SMOKE POSTER

Created by a team of world-class graphic designers, the poster is intended to educate, inform and create a dialogue amongst the general public relating to the ongoing issues associated with smoking. Released under the Creative Commons 3.0 Unported License, the poster can be downloaded and used by health organizations and other individuals wishing to spread the word about what harmfull substances go into each cigarette.

Sourced and Published by Henry Sapiecha 24th March 2009

Viagra & Blindness Warning – Men, will you still reach for “THE PILL”?
Reach for \I\'M SO HORNY
Viagra is popular for obvious reasons because of its sexual attributes. Its sales are increasing in leaps and bounds daily Ever since its existence, it has been able to lure millions of people world wide under its exotic and erotic sexual trap. A large number of people are attracted to its legendry & proven efficiency in treating an important sexual ailment in males – erectile dysfunction (ED).

Though this wonder drug has witnessed immense popularity, in recent times it was also veiled by a number of controversial issues. Blindess can be caused by viagra. A small number of its users have turned blind after consuming the wonder pill. All of them suffering from a swelling of the optic nerve within 36 hours of taking Viagra for ED.

The medical condition, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), causes a rapid reduction of vision and in the most serious cases, leads to blindness. NAION is considered one of the most common causes of sudden vision loss in older people. Its risk factors include diabetes and heart disease, which are also two of the leading causes of impotence. Is viagra like steriods in its application, does the job initially then catches up with you later on with continued use??
But Pfizer, the international makers of the blue magic drug which has been used by more than 20 million men since its launch in 1998, said the cases were a coincidence only. They’ve termed these accusations as baseless and circulated only to destroy their success by any potential competitors. According to them, the popularity of Viagra is due to its immense health benefits. It has been able to cure millions of ED patients worldwide and brought their sexual life back on track at long last.
But in spite of all these successes, some consumer advocacy groups are asking governments to add serious warning labels on Viagra and other ED drugs for the benefits of its users. This apparently positive step can keep its abusers at a distance. It will help in warning its users about its possible side effects and prove immensely beneficial for its genuine users.

So, the proper usage of this drug can revive the often dull and uneventful life of some aged people forever.


Perhaps VIAGRA OYSTERS may be good for you as OYSTERS are blind anyway and have been fed VIAGRA?

Further research is required to prove or disprove these findings to determine the accuracy of the claims.

About the author:
The author is an independent amateur writer focusing primarily on health related topics or on the health related research findings.
For more information on Viagra visit http://www.viagrapunch.com/


Posted by Henry Sapiecha