Bayer HealthCare’s erectile drug delivers

Bayer HealthCare AG has seen positive results from tests on its erectile dysfunction drug Levitra.

The pharmaceutical firm said the study, which is touted as the first of its kind with men who had not undergone previous treatment with a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, yielded significant results.

Of those who took the drug, 81 per cent reported longer-lasting erections, compared to the 30 per cent who identified positive effects in a placebo.

More than three-quarters of the men were able to maintain their erections to complete intercourse, with the test also scoring well against a number of other criteria.

When couples were quizzed on their reaction to the drug, six in ten said it had significantly improved confidence, while 64 per cent said it had improved pleasure.

Primary investigator Dr David Edwards, who conducted the 12-week test at a range of centres, said the results showed “successful therapy for erectile dysfunction”.

“Couples agree that Levitra provides better erections allowing men to confidently respond to their partners,” he said.

Half of men over 40 are said to experience some degree of erectile dysfunction, with an estimated 152 million sufferers worldwide.

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