News tagged with 'Merck'

BP stations around the U.S. are suffering from sluggish sales and destruction of the BP logo, and the oil giant is reaching out to help. Were 1,800 veterans exposed to HIV and hepatitis at a veterans hospital in Missouri? Some injury related headlines around the web for Wednesday June 30.

Filing a slip and fall case in Florida was just made more difficult thanks to a new law promoted by retailers. Private attorneys are lining up to prepare a large reparations request for BP, and thanks to one whistle blower, we now have a better understanding how WellCare Health Plans defrauded the government.

After the Vioxx scandal, Congress approved a new law that forces the FDA to reveal post-approval safety information on new drugs and vaccines. Information on the first 26 drugs were posted this week.

Drugmaker, Pfizer, is now disclosing what it pays to doctors in speaking fees and consulting in a downloadable, searchable database, an early jump on the Physician Payments Sunshine provision.

While a new study reassures patients who take bone-building drugs to treat osteoporosis, a recent study indicates that the quality of bone among users may be brittle. The latest study is sponsored by drug makers, Merck and Novartis.

The FDA responds to Fosamax studies warning of brittle bones with prolonged use.

Dr. Julie Gerberding has left the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as director and is heading Merck's vaccine division, responsible for bolstering sales domestically and overseas.

Zetia did not do as well in reducing plaque in the artery wall of the neck as the simple B vitamin, niacin, in this published study, which was curtailed early because of the results.

Gardasil will not become part of the childhood vaccination schedule for boys to prevent against genital warts, despite the fact that earlier this month the FDA recommended its use for boys.

Merck along with other drug companies realize that transparency will be required under health care reform. As promised, it has issued a list of doctors who it pays to promote its products and educate the public.

Cervarix has been approved for use in girls and women to fight cervical cancer, the FDA announced on Friday, the same day that Gardasil got approval for expanded use in boys and men to fight genital warts.

A 14-year-old girl in Britain died shortly after receiving her HPV vaccine Monday. Drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline has isolated that batch of the Cervarix vaccine. Cervarix is a direct competitor to Gardasil (Merck) and is seeking U.S. approval. The Gardasil vaccine is also thought to be responsible for a number of deaths.

While more girls are getting the first shot of Gardasil in 2008 than a year earlier, fewer than one in five completes the three-shot series, reports the CDC.

If the Food and Drug Administration follows the advice of its panels, Gardasil could soon be approved for use in boys and young men.

An FDA advsory panel will be looking at two issues to combat human papillomavirus (HPV) in the U.S. - the drug Ceravix, already approved in Europe, and expanded use of the drug, Gardasil in boys and young men.