The Viagra™ story (Medical Information)
Hello everyone; it is pretty known to us who work in the pharmaceutical field as the " coolest side effect "!?
yes, the erectile effect of ( Sildenafil ) or commercially ( Viagra™ ) is actually not an effect but it is a " side effect " as you may not know that the Viagra™ story started In 1985, when scientists at Pfizer( A leading pharmaceutical company) decided to develop a medicine to treat heart failure and hypertension. They were looking for a medicine that would vasodilate, arteries, lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart. They chose to target the medicine to act on an enzyme found in the wall of blood vessels.
Between 1986 and 1990, hundreds of possible molecules were synthesised and tested in laboratory experiments.
| To develop one successful medicine, the scientists screened over 1 500 compounds and spent an estimated £600 million (at today's prices). It took 13 years to bring Viagra™ from conception to production. This level of investment is needed for research, development and to prove that the new medicine is safe and effective. |
The most promising molecule was given the code name UK-92,480. It showed properties that suggested it would be a good compound to treat angina. Research was redirected to look at this heart disorder.
The medicine was later called Sildenafil and finally renamed Viagra™ (Sildenafil citrate).
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Volunteer trials
In 1991, healthy volunteers took part in clinical trials to test the safety of Viagra™ and how the body metabolised the compound.
These showed that it was safe. In trials over 10 days, the healthy volunteers reported some unexpected side effects. Male volunteers reported more frequent erections (search for the sexy nurses ) after taking the Angina medicine!
Following the unusual side effects seen in the volunteer trials, researchers switched to looking into using Viagra™ to treat Erectile dysfunction (ED)( lol!! ). This serious condition causes psychological and emotional problems that affects many families.(sure)
Research into using Viagra™ to treat angina continued but the medicine did not prove powerful enough to be really useful.
ED clinical trials
"Double-blind, placebo controlled" clinical trials started in 1993 to test how well Viagra™ treated patients with Erectile dysfunction. To make the trials a fair test, neither the patients, nor their doctors, knew if they were receiving the medicine or an inactive placebo.
Viagra™ proved to be a great success as a sexual enhancer medicine worldwide
All medicines need to be licensed by the medical authorities before they can be prescribed by doctors. To achieve this, trials must show it is safe and effective. Approval usually takes about 12 months but in the case of Viagra™ it received its licence in only 6 months.(wow!!)
It could be used in the treatment of Erectile dysfunction in 1998. In its first three months, there were 2.9 million prescriptions for the medicine.
the physiology behind erection
