Tran Quang Trung, an inspector for the Ministry of Health, announced January 15 the results of probes relating to two cervical cancer vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix.
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In response to rumors that the drugs, manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), had been approved by the Deputy Health Minister, Cao Minh Quang, after improper lobbying by the drug-makers, the Health Minister Nguyen, Quoc Trieu, has ordered a review of the approval process of the two cervical cancer drugs.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) has carried out the process in accordance with regulations, said the inspector. However, the Deputy Health Minister Cao Minh Quang, DAV and the Department of Science and Training have been reluctant to release official documents concerning the age of users. Subsequently, different ideas of the approval process of two cervical cancer drugs exist.
Mr. Quang and inspectors were asked to work with Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and GlaxosmithKline (GSK), the makers of the Gardasil and Cervarix cervical cancer vaccines. The two councils of medical research and drug and vaccine approval were ordered to reconsider the age of users. Cervarix vaccine is recommended to given routinely to 10 to 25 year olds. Yet it is allowed for women aged 10 to 55 who were not previously vaccinated.
Mr. Trung also stated that Mr. Quang and leaders of DAV must be responsible for the adjustment of the age of users of vaccines.
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