let's talk about HPV. you know, i usually stand by and watch the fda play out their shit, and normally understand why they're so reluctant to grant approvals for drugs (hello, vioxx). HPV is found in 50% of cervical cancers. that's right. that's a pretty fucking hefty number. recently, merck and gsk produced two very, VERY sucessful vaccines to hpv-16 and hpv-18. how successful ? merck's gardasil and glaxosmithkline's cervarix has been shown to be *100% effective* (yes, you read that right) at preventing cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, or genital warts. we're talking about CANCER here. so what happened ? let's just say that some very powerful groups (read: christian conservatives who don't want young people to go out and have sex, and think this is a free card to do so) are lobbying the fda to reject it. and guess what ? the FDA *will* reject it. their response is, they will reject it, and on appeal, gauge human interest to see how the public will take this rejection, ... and if they don't hear a peep from the apathetic public, it will be rejected again.
so here's my big F U to all those people who want to stuff their ideals at the risk of letting those who are sick DIE. heartless bastards. so pay attention, women: when you see this FDA release about their rejection of these drugs, call up your public reps and make a ruckus. who knows, it may save your life sometime. ___________________________________________________________________ The DJ Denise mailing list http://www.djdenise.com/
