photo credit: John Carleton via photopin cc

Generic versions of Viagra are likely in the works – in Canada, at least – after the Canadian Supreme Court ruled against Pfizer Inc.’s patent on the drug. In court, Israeli company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. appealed against the patent, pointing out that Pfizer had been overly vague in its filing. Pfizer’s patent of Viagra, famous for treating erectile dysfunction, ends in 2014.

The Canadian court ruled 7-0 in favor of Teva’s appeal, explaining that Pfizer indeed had not properly gone into enough detail in its patent filing to properly explain which was Viagra’s active ingredient. This was not the first time Pfizer was forced to defend its product in a courtroom; the company successfully stood its ground in the face of Teva’s patent suit in Norway, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.

The case landed in the Canadian Supreme Court after two lower courts ruled against it.

In the ruling, Justice Louis LeBel wrote that Pfizer had benefited from the Patent “Act – exclusive monopoly rights – while withholding disclosure in spite of its disclosure obligations under the act.”

“As a matter of policy and sound interpretation,” he added, “patentees cannot be allowed to ‘game’ the system in this way”.

The company’s Canadian patent was put in place in 1998, with the patent’s seven parts discussing 260 quintillion chemical compounds. However, the only active compound contained in the drug is sildenafil. The court found that Pfizer had neglected to provide the information necessary for another company to produce the drug.

Justice LeBel pointed out that “willful intent to mislead” had not been alleged in this case, and that Pfizer had not explained why it had left this vital information out.

Pfizer is already bracing for the drop in sales. Speaking to Reuters, a spokeswoman for the company declined to comment on how much money the company rakes in via the Canadian Viagra market. Pfizer said in an email statement that officials were “disappointed with the court’s ruling.”

According to Reuters, Pfizer makes $2 billion on annual Viagra sales. Viagra is sixth on the company’s list of biggest-selling products. For more information on erectile dysfunction treatment options, contact Dr. Michael S. Kaplan in Las Vegas.

One of the possible side effects of treating prostate cancer with radiation is erectile dysfunction. A recent study evaluated an unlikely prophylactic therapy. Viagra, affectionately known as the “little blue pill,” has proven to be quite effective at improving, and possibly preventing, sexual dysfunction in men who have had radiation therapy when the drug was taken before, during and after treatment.

photo credit: matsuyuki via photopin cc

The idea is based on past research conducted in animals that illustrated penile rehabilitation with a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (such as Viagra) could improve vascular function in animals with prostate cancer regardless of the type of cancer therapy used. Penile rehabilitation involves the usage of prescription medications as a preventative measure for erectile dysfunction prior to, during and after radiation. This past research also indicated that using a medication such as Viagra as a prophylactic may actually prevent erectile dysfunction as a side effect of cancer therapy.

The recent controlled and randomized study is the first one of its kind to show that penile rehabilitation was beneficial for men undergoing radiation therapy. Participants were split into two groups, one of which was given Viagra 50 mg once a day, and the other was given a placebo.

Study investigators then followed the 295 randomized men every three months for the first year and then again at 18 and 24 months respectively. The men completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS), and a measurement of their quality-of-life at each interval.

The results showed that, at 6 and 24 months, the men who were treated with Viagra prior to starting radiation and who continued it during and after the therapy had less incidence of sexual dysfunction than men in the placebo group.

Although scientists do not fully understand why or how the drug works in this particular application, there is speculation that the drug is successful because it treats the causes of erectile dysfunction by promoting retained erections, improving vascular protection and enhancing cavernosal oxygenation, which leads to reduced cavernosal fibrosis. Neuroprotective and regenerative mechanisms are also possible reasons.

For more information on this topic contact Dr. Michael S. Kaplan, a recognized authority in the field of urology. Call (702) 454-6226 – same day appointments often available!

Prostate cancer was first officially identified in 1853 and was thought to be a rare disease by early doctors.  Today, prostate cancer is recognized as the most commonly reported cancer for men in the United States, and the second most common cancer worldwide.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, yet there is no definite cure.  Scientists have also been unable to point to an exact cause of prostate cancer, though there is evidence linking factors such as genetics, diet and medication.  However, a recent study has led scientists in a new direction in their search for understanding prostate cancer.

Recent research has shown the significance of a class of molecules called microRNA.  One of the major roles microRNA plays in the human body deals with controlling which genes are expressed.  In other words, microRNA helps tell the body’s DNA when to turn genes on and off.  According to new research, certain types of microRNA can be associated with the growth of cancer cells. These microRNA’s are referred to as oncomirs.

One oncomir in particular has been shown to have a significant influence on prostate cancer cells.  This oncomir is known as microRNA-27a (or miR-27a for short).  While testosterone levels have long been linked to prostate cancer, it is was only recently discovered that testosterone produces higher levels of miR-27a in the body, which directly stimulate the production of prostate cancer cells. This suggests that testosterone itself may not be linked to prostate cancer, but rather the increased levels of miR-27a that come with it.  In addition, research has also shown that miR-27a interferes with the production of a protein called prohibitin, a tumor suppressing protein.  The benefit of this discovery is that it is much easier to create microRNA inhibitors than to create proteins.

Photo by Horia Varlan

While the field for studying microRNA is still relatively young, this discovery brings scientists in a new direction and marks significant progress in prostate cancer research.  Although the news has generated a lot of excitement, it will still take some time before these findings can be applied in humans.

Photo by Rdecom

As with any cancer, early detection is going to be your best bet for a good prognosis.  It is important to be screened regularly to catch any abnormalities before they potentially become serious.  If you are a male over 50, or have a family history of prostate cancer, talk with your urologist about testing options. There are many different options available and your doctor can help determine which is best for you.

For more information on prostate cancer, vasectomy, or erectile dysfunction treatment in Las Vegas, contact Dr. Michael S. Kaplan and his experienced staff at (702) 454-6226.