Erectile Dysfunction: VR004 works in 60 seconds
April 25, 2007

A British biotechnology firm, Vectura, has developed an inhalable version of Viagra that works in mere 60 seconds to treat people with erectile dysfunction. The drug is known by its medical name VR004 and it get absorbed instantly into the bloodstream through the lungs. Where as other oral drugs take around an hour to work.

The drug, VR004, is being developed by Britain's biggest biotechnology firm called Vectura.
The drug is a type of an apomorphine drug, which is already being used in some drugs that are used for treating erectile dysfunction. These drugs are kept under the tongue where it get dissolved.

However, Vectura, the firm developing this drug, has developed a fine powder version that can be easily absorbed by the lungs without getting stuck in the throat.
The fine powder version is administered using aspirair inhaler, which is specially designed for this.

This drug has just cleared its second clinical trials and the results were encouraging. 600 men were tested and 83 percent said they experienced increased sexual performance while 85 percent said the drug had its effect within 10 minutes and 60 percent people were of the opinion that it worked within 5 minutes.

Stating that Viagra takes anything between 30 to 60 minutes before it starts working on you, Chief Executive Dr Chris Blackwell said the result that his firm has is very much positive and their drug really works fast.

It is estimated that sale of drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra would reach pound 6.6 billion worldwide by 2012.

Around 50 million men in the US and in the Europe suffer from erectile problems.