Friday, June 18, 2010

"Female Viagra" pill update: FDA says NO

It's a "no go" for the so-called female viagra pill discussed in my previous post (see below this one). Here is the story (edited) as reported in Pharmalot: After weeks of anticipation and debate, an FDA advisory committee decided a Boehringer Ingelhim pill that was tested for treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in women was neither safe nor effective. The voting was rather stark - all 11 panelists decided the side effects were unacceptable, and 10 ruled the pill, known as flibanserin, is not effective. The outcome is hardly surprising, given concerns outlined by FDA reviewers in briefing documents that were released prior to the meeting. . . . . . . . .The run up to the meeting was characterized by a full-scale promotional push and heated debate over the validity of using medication to treat HSDD, which some refer to as Female Sexual Dysfunction. Some critics even question the extent to which HSDD has been legitimatized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . . . In any event, the FDA panel vote leaves US women without what some like to call a female equivalent to Viagra, at least for now. For the full story (including links to more information), go here.

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