The Man Behind The Blue Pill

Written by JDPGlobal | Thursday, 12 January 2006

Overwhelming was not a good enough word for the feeling that went through researchers minds when they found out that sildenafil citrate was efficacious in treating erectile dysfunction. When they knew that a dose of sildenafil citrate would solve the problem there was much rejoicing. The next thing to prove was whether the same dose would work in regular home conditions. This matter was cleared up when the subject of the study did not agree to give back the doses he had been given.

The ED pill was put out into the market and it brought back about a billion dollars to Pfizer. Researchers say that it is exciting that they achieved their goal. What was their goal? - To eventually develop a PDE-5 inhibitor. They were working towards making it for the heart but it eventually worked for erectile dysfunction. What makes their discovery even more interesting is that there are researches being done on the other uses of the pill. Viagra is being used for things apart the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Pfizer has another drug, using the same ingredients, Revatio by name, which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, otherwise known as PAH. It is a life threatening disease. There have been studies to show that it also increases memory power and also Viagra is being used to treat heart disease.

The head of the research team Dr Peter Ellis, claimed he had a slight hunch that it would work for erectile dysfunction. It was this hunch that was the key to the drugs success. Did he become rich then with all the money coming in? He didn’t. He was paid his salary and that’s all. The team leader said that the effort was successful because the whole team worked as a unit. The team behind the effort grew from a mere fifteen in ’86 to five hundred in ’97 when the drug was first available. Now they’re thousands of people involved in the process. They never did expect the whole research project to grow this big.

Commenting on the two major side effects that have been seen taking place by the people who have taken this drug- loss of vision and heart diseases- the project leader says that they are just stray cases. He says that one should not base his or her opinion on the pill on these stray incidents. The bigger issue that the company faces is the occurrence of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or NAION as it is conveniently known. It is found quite commonly with people who are fifty years old and above and it is linked to ED, high BP, cholesterol problems and also diabetes. The team said that there is no proof of the drug inflicting NAION on people who have been taking it. The regulatory authorities have said that the drug should carry a warning on the package. This was not only for Viagra but also for all the drugs in this category.

The maker of the drug has obtained field of use patients and has obtained a chemical molecule patent. By means of this patent, they have fractured all possible duplication of the drug from taking away their sales and profitability. The real thing was made available across medical shop counters in India recently. Five years prior to this, many “Indian” duplicates made their way into the market. However, they don’t have any reason to fear because this year their own their product is patented. The maker is looking for a female version too. It will be unlike the one for men, which is out now. It is bound to take time to develop.

Looking on the effect of Viagra on his own life, the team leader said he is known as the “Viagra Man” in certain parts but not every one knows him that way. One particular incident that he recalls is one in which he suggested a particular female take Viagra and she bore a baby. So Viagra addressed their fertility issue too!