Pfizer will not apply for a licence for sildenafil for women

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7439.542

BMJ 2004;328:542 (6 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7439.542

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Pfizer will not apply for a licence for sildenafil for women

London Susan Mayor

Pfizer, the company that developed the phosphodiesterase inhibitor sildenafil (Viagra), reported last week that efficacy results in women with what has been termed female sexual arousal disorder had been inconclusive and would not support filing for regulatory approval to use the drug in this indication.

In a statement, Pfizer said that several large scale, placebo controlled studies including about 3000 women with female sexual arousal disorder showed inconclusive results on the efficacy of sildenafil (www.pfizer.com). The disorder is defined by the American Foundation for Urological Diseases as distress caused by a persistent inability to attain or maintain sexual excitement.

Dr Joe Feczko, president of worldwide development with the company, said in the statement: "FSAD [female sexual arousal disorder] is an emerging area of research and is far more complex than male erectile dysfunction. Diagnosing FSAD involves assessing physical, emotional, and relationship factors, and these complex . . . [Full text of this article]

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