Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8817

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Kerr K.
Merck gave NY pols $500,000 as it pressed for laws mandating its vaccine for cervical cancer
Newsday.com 2007 Mar 9
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzmerc095122894mar09,0,5992376.story

Full text:

As the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. prepared to market a new cancer vaccine, it spent more than $500,000 lobbying in New York State and contributing to key officials, including two from Long Island.

The company wanted state legislatures to require cervical cancer vaccinations for girls before they have sexual intercourse. At the same time, Merck was lobbying state officials on other issues; it could not be determined how much was spent on cervical cancer.

Merck’s Gardasil prevents 70 percent of cervical cancers and was the only vaccine available. The company lobbied heavily across the country for mandatory shots, in a demonstration of how corporations try to influence health care policy.

Merck spokesman Raymond Kerins said the company lobbied because it wanted to get the vaccine to protect women. It eventually stopped after consulting medical and scientific experts, he said, noting, “We want people to focus on having a discussion about cervical cancer and women’s health.”

Tallying cost of prevention

Cervical cancer kills about 233,000 women worldwide each year – 3,700 in the U.S. Gardasil defeats two strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus that cause cervical cancer. It works best if women receive it before ever having sex.

But opponents question Gardasil’s cost – about $400 for the three shots – and unknown side effects. Some conservatives argue Gardasil could lead to promiscuity if girls mistakenly believe it protects against all sexually transmitted diseases.

State records show Merck contributed $106,000 to “housekeeping accounts” of various New York Republican and Democratic committees between 1999 and 2006. The accounts are supposed to pay for expenses such as rent and telephones, but critics say it can be difficult to trace how the money is spent.

Merck gave $33,400 to Democratic accounts and $72,600 to Republican accounts – including $10,000 to the New York Republican State Committee. “Those were under prior state chairmen, so I decline to comment,” said Anthony Santino, spokesman for GOP state chairman Joseph Mondello.

Phil Oliva, spokesman for the Assembly’s Republican conference, said: “We occasionally have individual groups contribute to the housekeeping account [for the GOP Assembly Campaign Committee]. There’s never been a quid pro quo.”

Assemb. Ron Canestrari (D-Cohoes), the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee chairman, said Merck never lobbied him. “I assume they made the contributions either in response to different functions [fundraisers] we have during the course of the year and generally to support our efforts here, the majority, in the Assembly,” Canestrari said.

Deputy Senate majority leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Senate health committee chairman Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City), and Assistant Assembly speaker Rhoda Jacobs (D-Flatbush) were the three lawmakers who received the most from Merck.

Between 1999 and 2006, Skelos received $4,300, Hannon received $3,150 and Jacobs received $3,950.

Skelos spokesman Tom Dunham said: “As far as contributions generally, Merck along with a number of other groups, they contribute to a number of other members.

Hannon spokesman Christopher Bastardi said: “He [Hannon] in recent memory has not met with Merck in the past couple of years.”

Pressing state lawmakers

The bulk of Merck’s New York expenses between 2003 and 2006 went to lobbying. Records kept by The New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying show Merck spent $384,203.

Between 2004 and 2006, Merck listed cervical cancer and vaccine policy among its reasons for lobbying. Other reasons included prescription drug assistance, diabetes and mercury in vaccines. Merck said it intended to lobby the Assembly, the Senate, the governor, the lieutenant governor and the health department.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil in 2006. An advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended shots for 11 and 12-year-old girls but did not require them.

Dr. John Treanor, professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, served on the CDC panel. “I think decisions about the mandatory nature of vaccines have to be made very carefully,” he said. “I personally would not be in favor at this time of mandatory [Gardasil] vaccination.”

Dr. Robert Baltimore, a Yale University School of Medicine professor, is on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infectious disease committee. He said: “It [Gardasil] doesn’t exactly meet the same health standards that other vaccinations that are mandatory meet.”

AAP doesn’t support the mandatory shots. Baltimore said states should concentrate on finding money to pay for Gardasil for people who can’t afford it.

On Feb. 20, Merck stopped lobbying for mandatory shots but already had spent considerable time and money trying to influence lawmakers. On Feb. 23, Assemb. Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) introduced a bill requiring cervical cancer vaccinations for girls. “I was very excited about a vaccine on the market that would eradicate cervical cancer,” she said. “I reached out to Merck.”

Paulin received one $500 contribution from Merck. She met with Merck’s representatives several times but said they did not pressure her.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for cervical cancer shots for low-income girls and women. Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently made the shots mandatory for 11- and 12-year-old girls entering sixth grade. His former chief of staff is a Merck lobbyist. Twenty states have bills mandating the shots.

Staff Writer Tom McGinty contributed to this story.

Price of protection

Gardasil can prevent about 70 percent of cervical cancers – those caused by two strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).

About 233,000 women worldwide – including 3,700 in the U.S. – die each year from cervical cancer.

Three shots of Gardasil cost about $400; the list price is $360. Analysts have said in the U.S. alone, Gardasil sales could reach $1.3 billion by 2008.