Once regarded as a little blue miracle for sufferers of erectile dysfunction everywhere, Viagra completely transformed the lives of many men and helped restore their sex lives when it first hit the market back in 1998. Yet while the famous drug has cemented its place in the history books as a medical marvel, the drug still carries with it a certain element of embarrassment, with many men feeling uncomfortable about revealing their need for the medication.
Thankfully, help is now on hand, as a new more discreet form of the drug could be set to hit the market in the UK, allowing men to take the medication far less conspicuously. US company Viatris has created a new version of Viagra, which is also known as sildenafil, but instead of being a tablet, the new form is a wafer-like film that dissolves in the mouth, and does not need to be taken with water.
What’s more, Viatris has recently applied for a trademark for the innovation in the UK and this could be the news many ED sufferers had been wishing for.
The product, which is marketed as Viagra ODF, provides an accessible form of the medication for people who may struggle with swallowing conventional tablets, and in its new form, offers a far more discreet and convenient way to carry and ingest the medication.
Allan Pacey, professor of andrology at the University of Manchester, welcomed the development and told The Guardian: “I think the little blue pill has become part and parcel of modern culture for men and couples of a certain age.
“I don’t think that a film will make much difference to Viagra’s acceptability, but it may make it more convenient for people to use and carry around with them. Box of pills in your pocket or a discreet film in your wallet? I know which I’d choose.”
Around half of all men aged between 40 and 70 are thought to be impacted by Erectile Dysfunction, making it a common condition that doesn’t have to spark the end of a sexual relationship. In fact, Viagra is able to treat the condition quickly and easily, with the effects lasting for around 4 hours in total.
Experts believe that the application filing could mean that the new medication is available in the UK within the next five years. It has already been successfully launched in Canada to great success, with aluminium pouches containing around 50mg doses being similarly priced to the more traditional tablet form.
First discovered by accident in the early 1990s, sildenafil was originally trialled by drug giant Pfizer as a potential angina treatment. However during a clinical trial in Merthy Tydfil, an unexpected side effect was soon discovered, after trial participants reported an increase in erections.
This was due to the drug relaxing blood vessels in both the chest and penis, and in the process improving blood flow. As a result, the drug was later launched in 1998 under the name Viagra.
It has since gone on to become one of the most prescribed drugs in history and in the process improved the lives of millions of people around the world.
