Apricus Biosciences is finally ready to market their erectile dysfunction treatment, Vitaros this November in Canada. They hope that the drug will be available in Europe by the end of 2012 if it is approved by the regulators here.
This drug will be the first topical treatment for erectile dysfunction that is sold on prescription and requires less time to get to work than current treatments available. A drop is placed at the tip of the penis and produces results within 6 minutes. The active ingredient in Vitaros is Alprostadil, an ingredient that is usually injected into the penis or administered as a suppository into the urethra. As one can imagine, this topical version of the ingredient will be a more attractive alternative.
Additionally, since the topical treatment is non-systemic and gets to work on the isolated area of the penis, there are little or no side effects experienced such as those that are associated with the taking of PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
The pharmaceutical company ran into trouble with this drug in 2009 having run out of cash but over the last year and a half they have been working hard to get themselves back on track and Vitaros is not their only market hopeful.
Phase III trials for Femprox, a treatment for female sexual dysfunction, revealed a 44% higher arousal rate in women compared to those who had been given a placebo. With such interest in the area of female sexual dysfunction (especially hypoactive sexual desire disorder), the company looks set to enjoy a wealth of success over the coming years if it can get its products through the regulators.