Sickle Cell Disease Viagra Research Stopped
Written by Jamie Stowe | Thursday, 30 July 2009 | There are 0 comments
the study is being canceled early because of safety problems
Hopes were raised when the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute announced that it would be conducting clinical test to see whether the active ingredient of the impotence drug Viagra could have a useful application treating people who suffer from sickle-cell disease which is a genetic blood disorder.
The bad news is that they have just announced that the study is being canceled early because of safety problems with the participants. Because Viagra works by widening arteries and it is already used in treating men and women who suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension which often appears in sickle-cell patients it was hoped that there would be a practical application for the drug. Viagra has already been rebranded and repackaged and called Revatio for people suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Researchers working at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute said that the placebo group in the clinical testing suffered from less serious side effects than those using the active ingredient of the Viagra and therefore it was decided that the Viagra was almost certainly not contributing to better health for these people.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which forms part of the National Institutes of Health however were quick to point out the side effects were specific to people with sickle-cell disease and therefore should not worry people who suffer from either erectile dysfunction and who use Viagra for those who suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension and who use Revatio.
Pfizer also put out a statement saying that both Viagra and Revatio were “well established” and therefore individuals using them should not worry about their safety because of the findings of this particular study.
At Ukmedix News we personally believe that the active ingredient of Viagra has far more applications than it is being used for at present and that Pfizer should fund more clinical research with its wonder drug.
