[headmelted]

Odd that you would suggest the article is written to show Merck in a good light, and then choose that exact quote to make your point.

To give the whole quote in context:

"Merck, its maker, wouldn’t be likely to mention the potential benefit in advertisements. Though most experts have little doubt that the vaccine prevents HPV infections anywhere in the body and therefore the resulting cancers, technically, this has not been proven."

It's not exactly calling Merck out, but the author is clearly not giving them a pat on the back over it either.