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Race For The Cure-Money Driven

According to an article on Bloomberg.com, the largest drug maker in Europe GlaxoSmithKline has entered into an arms race against Merck and Co. The winner hopes to receive the biggest share of the relatively lucrative cervical cancer market.

GlaxoSmithKline is currently conducting studies comparing their experimental vaccine (Cervrix) against Merck's already released drug, Gardasil. GlaxoSmithKline has stated the results of the study will be released whether they support their soon to be released medication or not.

The article posted on Bloomberg.com states, "Glaxo is seeking to gain an advantage over Merck's vaccine, which has already gone on sale in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Lehman Brothers analyst Tony Butler last year estimated Gardasil may generate $3 billion in peak annual sales for Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck."

Cervical cancer kills over 250,000 women a year making it the second most common type of cancer found in women. "About 500,000 cases of the disease are reported every year, 80 percent of them in developing countries, the Geneva-based agency said. About 10,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. in 2006 and nearly 4,000 died from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society," the article states.

Sources from GlaxoSmithKline click here state that the study results will likely be released in around 17 months. Currently Merck sells Gardasil at $120 a dose, three doses needed to complete a regiment. There is yet to be any word on how much GlaxoSmithKline plans to charge for their medication.

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