63 Japanese Women Sue the Government, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. Over HPV Vaccines

A lawsuit filed by 63 women nationwide who say they were damaged by human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines that were approved to prevent cervical cancer is unlikely to be settled soon.

The women, aged 15 to 22, sued the government and manufacturers of the HPV vaccines — GlaxoSmithKline PLC of Britain and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of U.S. giant Merck & Co. — in July in district courts in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

The plaintiffs allege they have experienced a wide range of adverse effects since receiving the vaccines and are seeking compensation of ¥15 million each.

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