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Health

Vasomax may offer impotent men alternative to Viagra

Injection
Some doctors already use Vasomax as an injection, demonstrated here on a grapefruit  

New drug not yet FDA-approved

June 2, 1998
Web posted at: 11:29 p.m. EDT (0329 GMT)

From Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen

ATLANTA (CNN) -- In the brouhaha over Viagra, the fact that it doesn't work for roughly one-third of impotent men sometimes is lost in the excitement.

But another drug company believes it has an alternative: a new drug called Vasomax that has yet to gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Once approved, it could be on the market within two years.

Results of a new study, which are being presented this week at a meeting of urologists, show that Vasomax worked for 25 percent to 40 percent of impotent men.

"These are just the pivotal studies for the first time presented in the United States, and the data is very promising and it looks like it will and should meet appropriate FDA standards," said Dr. Irwin Goldstein of the Boston University School of Medicine.

Both Vasomax and Viagra work by improving blood flow to the penis, but they achieve it in different ways. Doctors hope Vasomax will work for men who tried Viagra without success.

Viagra
Viagra bottles  

Some men can't take Viagra

Vasomax appears to have certain advantages over Viagra.

For example, men taking nitrates for their heart can't take Viagra because it could send their blood pressure to dangerously low levels.

Vasomax also is effective within 20 to 30 minutes of taking the drug; Viagra takes an hour.

Some doctors already use Vasomax as an injection into the penis. Goldstein, who did the studies on Vasomax pills, believes that form of the drug has no serious side effects.

However, urologists say impotent men should undergo a physical examination before taking any drug, because impotence can be a sign of heart disease, diabetes or other serious health problems.

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