Good call FDA! (seriously–this is a good one)

Here’s something you won’t hear me say often: The FDA might have just saved countless lives.

Merck, the maker of Gardasil, asked the FDA to approve the controversial HPV vaccine for women aged 27 to 45.

And FDA officials said… “Maybe.”

They asked Merck for more data. Merck prepared more data.

And then FDA officials reviewed the new data and said…”No.”

And there’s even more good news on the Gardasil front. Pharmalot reports that after generating $1.4 billion in sales in 2008, Gardasil slipped down below the billion level last year, making only $988 million.

I know it’s kind of ridiculous to put the word “only” in front of “$988 million.” But as a marker of a significant downward trend, it’s exactly what we want to see.

It means fewer and fewer young women may be suffering from the potentially horrific side effects of this completely unnecessary vaccine. And that’s very good news indeed.

Source:
“FDA Rejects Gardasil For Use In Most Adult Women” Ed Silverman, Pharmalot, 4/6/11, pharmalot.com