Merck Asks Court to Keep Gardasil Personal Injury Suits Separate

Merck & Co. urged the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation not to combine personal injury suits over its Gardasil HPV vaccine, saying the plaintiffs’ claims have already been rejected by a special vaccine court and a multidistrict proceeding would harm public health.

Gardasil is administered to prevent human papillomavirus, believed to cause cervical and other cancers.

Plaintiffs allege the vaccine caused autoimmune disease and other side effects. In April, plaintiffs in 15 suits told the panel that more are expected, and they said a unified proceeding would promote efficiency and prevent inconsistent rulings.

But none of the plaintiffs received ...