Jezebel: merck

Gardasil May Protect Men From HPV • Dallas Pastor Urges Couples To Enjoy 7 Days Of Sex

Maria — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:40:00 EST

• Merck and Co reported today that Gardasil may protect men from HPV-caused infection and
external genital lesions. • The discovery of a wide-hipped Homo erectus pelvis in Ethiopia suggests that the pre-human species gave birth to relatively developed babies with large heads and advanced behavior. • A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to two to four years in prison, five years probation and substance abuse treatment on Wednesday for throwing a garden gnome through a glass door and injuring his stepdaughter earlier this year. •

• A new study claims that women who gain too much weight during pregnancy
may have their children grow up to be obese teenagers. • Rice Krispies
celebrated its 80th British anniversary on November 10th, marking the 80th year since the cereal was brought from the U.S. to Britain. • Why are movie trailer narrators overwhelmingly male? • Forensics trainees from
Park Point University in Pittsburgh will re-examine the cold case of accused 19th century parent-killer, Lizzie Borden. • U.S. researchers have found stronger brain activity in women who are ovulating and viewing masculinized male faces. • A 26-year-old woman from Florida who was suspected of abusing her daughter will be given custody of her twin children after a three-judge panel on Wednesday determined that she had made sufficient progress as a parent since her daughter was abused in 2002. • A Dallas-area pastor of a mega-church urged his married congregants on Sunday to have sex with their spouses for 7 days straight. • A urologist from Florida has invented a stealth urinal for men called the UroClub which is designed to look like a 7-iron and fit in a golf bag. • Twin panda cubs who were born at the Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama, Japan in September were named Meihin and Eihin today.• A British couple who met online and played Second Life together are getting divorced after the wife found out her husband's avatar was seeing another (virtual) woman. • Is the spider fear a learned behavior? • Malaysia police say that protests from Katagender and Food Not Bombs regarding the recent Muslim edict against women wearing trousers is a security threat. •

Some experts think that the overly aggressive...

Jessica — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Some experts think that the overly aggressive marketing of HPV vaccine Gardasil and the lobbying of Gardasil manufacturer Merck has led to the vaccine's potential over-prescription. According to the New York Times, "Some experts worry about the consequences of the rapid rollout of the new vaccines without more medical evidence about how best to deploy them. They say that because of the aggressive marketing, even parents of girls who are far from being sexually active may feel pressured into giving them a vaccine that is not yet needed and whose long-term impact is still unclear." Merck, of course, has already made big buckies with their zealous Gardasil-selling. Gardasil has "a projected sales of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion outside Europe this year, and more from sales in Europe, where Merck sells the vaccine through a joint venture with Sanofi Aventis," the Times reports. [NY Times]

Gardasil has been denied delayed approval...

Jessica — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Gardasil has been ~~denied~~ delayed approval by the FDA for use in women ages 27-45. According to Reuters, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a letter regarding the application that it has completed its review and there are 'issues' that preclude approval within the expected review time frame." Merck was also not granted approval to expand the cervical cancer vaccine to cover a greater number of HPV strains. The company still plans to seek approval for male use of Gardasil. UPDATE: If you're over 26, you can still get the shot, it just will not be covered by most insurances nor is it recommended for use by the FDA. [Reuters via MSNBC]

According to news reports, the FDA will...

Jessica — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EDT

According to news reports, the FDA will decide whether or not to extend the the administration of Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, to women ages 27-45, by this summer. Currently, Gardasil is only approved for use in women ages 9-26. A spokeswoman for Merck, the company that produces Gardasil, emphasized that the vaccine prevents four different strains of HPV, so even women who already have HPV can consider getting the Gardasil shots in order to prevent strains they do not have. The current HPV tests do not differentiate between the types of the virus. [Gardasil]

Adorable Bearded Monkeys Discovered in East Africa

Jessica — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:00:25 EST

Cutest discovery evs?? A new population of these owl-looking motherfuckers called De Brazza's monkeys — thought to be near extinction — were found in Kenya. Look at that face! Don't you kind of want one? [National Geographic]
Britney, you best be letting Sean and Jayden get some shut-eye. A new study shows that lack of sleep may lead to obesity in children. [CBS News]
Addicted to drugs? Try battling your crack cravings through virtual reality. According to a Duke U. professor, "What we're trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world." [ABC News]

From the department of Obvious Studies: "The research is clear that divorce with conflict is unquestionably bad for the kids." [MSNBC]
Everyone deals with grief differently, says new research. "Some people suffer interminable grief, and others show no distress at all." [Psychology Today]
Cougars on the prowl can get Gardasil soon! According to the HPV vaccine manufacturer Merck, the company may soon approve Gardasil for women aged 26-45. The vaccine is currently only available for females ages 9-26. [MSNBC]

Pussy Whip

Anna — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:59:10 EST

The strange connection between heartburn during pregnancy and babies born with lots of hair. Perhaps this explains Suri Cruise. [NY Times]

HPV vaccine? Check. Next up: Chlamydia, also given the unfortunate moniker of "The Clam". [Feministing]

Speaking of that HPV vaccine: pharmaceutical giant Merck to stop urging state legislatures to mandate its use. [NY Times]

Speaking of Merck: the company plans to test AIDS vaccine on sex workers in the Dominican Republic. [International Herald Tribune]

Women are donating their eggs more and more — and for more money. [Salon]

John McCain says he's now in favor of overturning Roe vs. Wade. [Washington Post]

Naomi Watts pregnant. [NY Post]