Merck Suspends Lobbying for Mandatory HPV Vaccination

Merck today reported that they are suspending their lobbying efforts for mandatory HPV vaccination. (Thanks to Main Mama for pointing this out to me.)

“Our goal is about cervical cancer prevention, and we want to reach as many females as possible with Gardasil,” Dr. Richard M. Haupt, Merck’s medical director for vaccines, told The Associated Press.

“We’re concerned that our role in supporting school requirements is a distraction from that goal, and as such have suspended our lobbying efforts,” Haupt said, adding the company will continue providing information about the vaccine if requested by government officials.

I’m not sure what exactly suspending lobbying means. Merck has been funneling funds through Women in Government, whose members have been the driving force behind mandatory HPV legislation. Both Merck and the WIG have declined to say just how much money has changed hands between them.

If the WIG’s members are the “government officials” Haupt is referring to, then I assume it means the relationship with the WIG remains in place. From what I can see, the majority of Merck’s work with the WIG has been done – boilerplate legislation has been crafted and the WIG members trained to introduce the legislation. At this point, Merck can sit back and let the WIG do it’s job for them, and deny that they are lobbying. (I know, I know. I’m just so cynical…I think I’m just getting really good at reading between the lines of these corporate press releases disguised as news.)

The vaccine, which costs about $360, has been projected to have the potential to generate $3 billion a year in sales. According to that pie up there, that’s almost $2 billion in profit for Merck. Gardasil revenue in 2006 totaled $155 million (The vaccine was approved in June 2006).

Pie Data from Baltimore Sun.