McCarthy, whose son Evan was diagnosed with autism when he was two, and her partner Carrey claim gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues have been "repressed" by medical corporations who profit from vaccines.

But they insist the doctor's data, which examines vaccinated and unvaccinated monkeys, is a breakthrough in autism studies.

A joint statement issued by the couple reads, "Dr. Andrew Wakefield is being discredited to prevent a historic study from being published that, for the first time, looks at vaccinated versus unvaccinated primates and compares health outcomes, with potentially devastating consequences for vaccine makers and public health officials.

"It is our understanding that the difference in outcome for the vaccinated monkeys versus the unvaccinated controls is both stark and devastating."

"Having denied the possibility of the vaccine-autism connection for so long while profiting immensely from a recent boom in vaccine sales around the world, it's no surprise that (vaccine makers) would seek to repress this important work."

McCarthy has become one of the most public voices for medical research into vaccines, claiming some are responsible for autism.