Rival cervical cancer vaccines square up for court battle

Published: 23-Oct-2006

CSL has lost its bid to put an immediate stop to a marketing campaign by rival GlaxoSmithKline that threatens sales of CSL's anticancer drug, Gardasil, but the judges commented that its claim against GSK has merit and that a speedy trial was needed to resolve the dispute.


CSL has lost its bid to put an immediate stop to a marketing campaign by rival GlaxoSmithKline that threatens sales of CSL's anticancer drug, Gardasil, but the judges commented that its claim against GSK has merit and that a speedy trial was needed to resolve the dispute.

GSL's Gardasil vaccine was launched in Australia in August and is the only cervical cancer vaccine available. The vaccine has been licensed to Merck and annual sales could top A$1bn, according to CSL chief executive Brian MeNamee, who added that royalties occurring to CSL could reach $50m in 2006-07.

GSK, however, is preparing to launch its Cervarix vaccine as early as next year if approval is granted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Both companies claim their drugs provide protection against 70% of cervical cancers.

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