On October 11, Judge Robert Conrad of the Western District of North Carolina approved docket leadership in MDL 3036's lawsuit against Merck for the HPV vaccine, Gardasil.
On October 11, Judge Robert Conrad of the Western District of North Carolina approved docket leadership in MDL 3036's lawsuit against Merck for the HPV vaccine, Gardasil.
Merck claims to provide lifetime immunity
While Merck's marketing materials claim that Gardasil provides lifetime immunity, some plaintiffs in Gardasil litigation dispute those claims. Many say Gardasil is more likely to cause cancer in those previously exposed to HPV than prevent it.
Lawsuits allege that Merck knows Gardasil can cause a constellation of severe reactions and adverse side effects, and the company hides this fact. Gardasil contains hazardous ingredients, including one that is not disclosed to regulators or the public. Studies show that the vaccine's ingredient Amorphous Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate (AAHS) binds to non-vaccine proteins, triggering autoimmune disorders.
History of Controversial Products
Merck has a history of making controversial products, including Fosamax, a supposedly bone-strengthening medication that causes fractures; Nuvaring, a birth control device with dangerous blood clots and even death; and the infamous Vioxx, which was pulled from the market after showing cardiovascular risks. Tens of thousands of patients filed lawsuits against Merck, alleging they suffered from the adverse side effects of using Vioxx.
Merck knew that Vioxx could lead to fatal cardiovascular events but concealed the risks from the public. In their defense, they claimed that the medications reported effects were too vague and inconclusive to show any link to Vioxx. Nobody knows for sure if it's true or not. Still, many legal cases currently being investigated are asking questions about whether it was a smart business move to conceal the risks from Vioxx.
Gardasil Lawsuit Allegations
Gardasil plaintiffs note that Merck's actions for Vioxx seemed to have repeated themselves in Gardasil. Lawsuits allege that Merck designed its clinical trial studies to purposefully hide evidence of chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases while fabricating the vaccine's purported efficacy.