May 5, 1999
Parkinson's Disease drug
'cures impotence'
Viagra is the first of a wave of new impotence treatments
BBC News--A new impotence pill developed from a
treatment for Parkinson's Disease is proving to be
effective in trials, doctors have announced.
Uprima works in a different way to Viagra and is being
hailed as part of a second wave of oral medications for
impotence.
Viagra, initially developed as a hypertension treatment,
increases nitric oxide levels which relax the blood
vessels and facilitate blood flow to the penis.
Uprima or apomorphine also affects nitric oxide levels,
but works like a neurotransmitter, sending electrical
impulses to the brain.
The brain then transmits messages down the spinal cord
which ensure blood flow to the penis is increased.
Significant improvements
Doctors told a meeting of the American Urological
Association in Dallas that results of trials show Uprima,
particularly in higher doses, can significantly increase
impotent men's chances of sustaining an erection.
They studied results in nearly 1,500 men with erectile
dysfunction.
Some of the men were given fake pills and others were
given various doses of Uprima.
One test showed that men given six milligrams of
Uprima had a 61% chance of having an erection,
compared with a 29% success rate for the dummy pill.
Doctors believe the dummy pill's success could signal
that some of the men's erectile problems were due to
psychological factors.
The most significant side effect reported was nausea.
By mid-year, TAP Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of
Uprima, hope to apply to the US Food and Drug
Administration for approval of the drug.
Parkinson's Disease
Apomorphine has been in existence for some time and
was originally injected into patients with Parkinson's
Disease - a condition which affects coordination.
But, at the same time as treating Parkinson's
symptoms, it was found to cause erections.
Researchers behind the studies say Uprima may
eventually be able to be used in combination with Viagra
to offer relief to a wider group of patients.
Dr Harin Padma-Nathan, director of the Male Clinic in
Beverley Hills, California, said: "It's like a hypertension
therapy. We use more than one class of drugs."
Doctors believe the furore around Viagra has caused
much interest in new impotence treatments and will
soon mean there will be a wide range of easy-to-take
options in on offer.
It is estimated that around one in 10 British men suffers
from impotence. Many do not seek help.
A spokeswoman for the Impotence Association said the
research results look good for Uprima.
"But it depends if the British government will make it
available on the NHS."
She added that it might be possible to combine
impotence drugs for people with severe medical reasons
for erectile dysfunction.
But she said most treatments stated that they should
not be used in combination with other impotence drugs.
--
Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
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