Schering-Plough: Levitra can work in patients with high blood pressure

Schering-Plough has said that Levitra, its treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) marketed in the UK through Bayer, has demonstrated effectiveness in patients with high blood pressure, dyslipdaemia and diabetes.

According to new research presented at the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, trial involving 600 patients showed an 83 per cent success rate in achieving penetration after 12 weeks of treatment, compared to 56 per cent for the placebo.

The secondary objective of the study was to compare the safety and tolerability of the drug to the placebo, with the most common adverse effect of headaches and flushing to be found in five per cent of subjects.

Andrew Axilrod, director of male sexual health at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said the results are “important” because many men with high blood pressure, dislipidaemia and diabetes are at a higher risk of developing ED.

Study author Luc Valiquette, from the University of Montreal Hospital Centre, Montreal, remarked: “These study results demonstrate the efficacy of Levitra at first dose and after continued treatment in men whether or not they have associated medical conditions.”

“First-dose success and long-term reliability are important criteria for patients,” he added.

Levitra is a PDE5 inhibitor, like its competitors in the ED market – Vialis and Cialis.