INTERESTS OF THE AMICI CURIAE

Along with respondent Wyeth, Inc., amici curiae GlaxoSmithKline LLC (“GSK”), Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (formerly known as Merck & Co., Inc.) (“Merck”), and Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (“Sanofi”) are the remaining major childhood vaccine companies supplying vaccines for use in the United States.  Amici have lived through this high-stakes debate before—in 1986, when Congress enacted the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”).  Congress passed the Act in part to protect the vaccine supply by shielding vaccine companies from tort suits like this one, while at the same time establishing a generous federal compensation system for the injured.

brief pdf