Gardasil news from FierceBiotech

> AstraZeneca and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have announced a research collaboration that will focus on ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. The major Read more...

A sign of the times? When Sanofi-Aventis presented its 2007 results earlier this week, it trumpeted the 14.5 percent sales growth in its vaccines group. That's more than double its pharma Read more...

> Strativa has acquired commercialization rights to the late-stage Onconase from Alfacell. Onconase is in Phase III for inoperable malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Alfacell gets $5 Read more...

After hearing that the FDA is demanding more information on Cervarix before it can be approved, analysts are estimating that GlaxoSmithKline could face delays of up to two years in launching the Read more...

> Once, the gap between prescription drugs and over-the-counter sales was a wide No Man's Land where few products roamed. Now, the FDA may settle more medications in this country, known as Read more...

> Wyeth and Progenics say that a three-month extended study of their constipation therapy produced positive data. Release

> GlaxoSmithKline says that the biggest study yet has produced impressive data on the effectiveness of Cervarix in preventing cervical cancer. It will need plenty of powerful data if it intends to grab market share from Gardasil.  …

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Press Release: GlaxoSmithKline initiates head-to-head study of cervical cancer vaccines

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With a huge market at stake, GlaxoSmithKline says it will mount a head-to-head study of its cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix against Merck's Gardasil. The Phase III trial involves 1,042 volunteers in two arms, each taking one of the two vaccines. The trial will compare the immune response of 18 to 24-year-old women to two types of human papillomavirus. Secondary objectives are laid …

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BusinessWeek profiles Margaret McGlynn (photo), president of Merck Vaccines for the past 14 months. During that time, Merck has launched four vaccines, including Gardasil as a protection against cervical cancer. These vaccines are at the center of Merck's plans to revive the company from its post-Vioxx debacle. Gardasil alone is expected to generate $2 billion to $4 billion in annual revenue.

- here's the …

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> Merck's cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, has been hailed as a major breakthrough, but it's still hard to obtain. Many doctors appear to be waiting a few months before they start giving the shots, saying that they're waiting for insurers to sign on to covering the therapy. Article (sub. req.)

> The European Commission has approved Novartis' Exjade for patients with transfusional …

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