Merck reportedly spent $500,000 on lobbying expenses and campaign contributions in New York as it pushed for a state law requiring girls to get a cervical cancer vaccination. Merck's lobbying activities to push the use of Gardasil around the country raised a storm of protest, particularly from opponents of any state requirements. In Texas, Governor Rick Perry has had to defend a $5,000 contribution his campaign received from Merck on the same day company representatives sat down with state officials to discuss a state mandate. Perry's executive decision mandating the vaccine has encountered fierce resistance in the state legislature. Merck recently announced it was dropping its campaign [1], saying that it prefers to have the discussion center on women's health.
- read the report [2] on Merck from Newsday
Related Articles:
Merck's Gardasil faces critical new hurdle. Report [3]
Merck's Gardasil OK'd for pricey rollout. Report [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/node/5730
[2] http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzmerc095122894mar09,0,5992376.story?coll=ny-business-print
[3] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-s-gardasil-faces-critical-new-hurdle/2006-06-23
[4] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-s-gardasil-ok-d-for-pricey-rollout/2006-06-09