FDA Approves New Impotence Drug Stendra

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that it had approved Stendra, a new medication for erectile dysfunction.

Stendra (avanafil, see the structure) joins Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, all from a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5. According to the FDA, fast-acting Stendra is designed to be taken 30 minutes before sexual activity and at the lowest effective dose.

Whether the new drug adds any value to the existing range of impotence medications is unclear, one expert said.

Dr. Bruce Kava, acting chairman of urology at the University of Miami School of Medicine, said that

"the only advantage Stendra may have is a more rapid onset of action over the other drugs. The question is whether there are any advantages to a more rapid onset."

He noted that many patients don't respond to one or another of these drugs. But there is no way right now of telling who will respond to which drug. "Sometimes it's hit or miss," he explained.

Men will have to try these drugs to find the one that best suits their lifestyle, Kava said. For example, for some men Cialis works best because its effects seem to last much longer than that of the other drugs, he said.

Ref : http://ir.vivus.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=668292