Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Viagra Corner: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Medicine

Nick Schoon
Monday 04 January 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A RIVAL to Viagra may be launched in Britain in the next few months. The manufacturer of Vasomax claims its drug begins to work after half an hour, compared with Viagra's one hour start-up time.

US pharmaceutical giant Schering Plough is hopeful that the Government's Medicines Control Agency will award a licence to market Vasomax by April.

The drug has already been on sale in Mexico for three months, having undergone successful clinical trials there. The manufacturer is also seeking permission to market the drug in America.

Both drugs help impotent men to achieve and sustain erections, but they work in different ways. Viagra acts on an enzyme that regulates blood flow to the penis. Vasomax , an alpha blocker, stops nerve impulses that control the tiny muscles surrounding blood vessels in the erectile tissue. Schering Plough says that its product has another advantage over Viagra - it can be used my men who take nitrate drugs for angina and heart conditions.

The launch of the new drug seems unlikely to bring down the high cost of restoring potency - at least for the time being. Vasomax is expected to cost pounds 4-pounds 5 for each 40 milligram tablet, while Viagra sells for pounds 4.84 per tablet.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in