The FDA has approved a new erectile dysfunction medication that could cut into Viagra’s stronghold on the market.
Newest medication to hit the market
Avanafil, which will be sold under the brand name Stendra, is the first new drug in the category in a decade. Clinical trials show the drug starts working with 15 minutes, although men are encouraged to take it 30 minutes before sex.
“This is potentially the fastest acting of the four,” Dr Wayne Hellstrom, professor of urology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans told Fox News.
The drug’s approval was based on three clinical studies that involved 1,267 patients for 12 weeks. A subset of patients were followed for up to an additional 40 weeks to evaluate potential safety problems.
In clinical trials, 77 percent of men with general ED were able to get erections after taking Stendra, compared with 54 percent of men taking a placebo pill, WebMD reported. Stendra resulted in successful intercourse for 57 percent of men with general ED, compared with 27 percent of men on placebo.
The effects Stendra could have on the market
This medication, which will compete with Viagra and Cialis, could impact the overall market. An additional medication could not only give patients more options but it could also drive prices down.
“This approval expands the available treatment options to men experiencing erectile dysfunction, and enables patients, in consultation with their doctor, to choose the most appropriate treatment for their needs,” Victoria Kusiak, deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
Side effects
Stendra comes with similar side effects as other erectile dysfunction medications. Nausea, flushing of the face, nasal congestion and back pain have been reported.
