Viagra Lawsuit
What is Viagra?
Viagra (generic: sildenafil) is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and impotence in men. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis in order to help a man get and maintain an erection when he is sexually aroused or stimulated. Viagra is made by Pfizer & Co., and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1998.
What’s the Problem?
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in April 2014 found that men who took Viagra are at a significantly increased risk of developing melanoma skin cancer. The researchers looked at data from over 25,000 participants in the Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study, and found that when compared to men who never took the drug, men with a history of Viagra use were twice as likely to develop melanoma, while men currently taking the drug were at a 84% increased risk.
Even when accounting for participants’ histories of skin cancer, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and other kinds of cancer and major illnesses, the study’s authors said that the findings remained the same, according to NBC News. Additionally, there was no sign of ED itself being linked to an increased risk for developing melanoma, the study found.
How Can Viagra Cause Skin Cancer?
In a commentary published alongside the JAMA study, dermatologist June Robinson, M.D. explained that Viagra works by inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which is also blocked by melanoma. This indicates a strong link between the drug and melanoma, since the mechanism of action affects the same cell-signaling pathways as melanoma metastasizes.
Melanoma Symptoms
Unusual moles, sores, lumps, markings or changes in the way the skin looks or feels may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The primary symptom of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape or color. Spots that looks different from all of the other spots on the skin (“ugly duckling sign”) may also be a symptom of the disease. If you have one or more of these warning signs, contact your doctor for an evaluation right away.
Treatment
Fortunately, if melanoma skin cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, it is highly treatable. Surgery is the main treatment for early melanomas, and may be used as part of the treatment approach for advanced melanomas. Other treatment options include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and radiation.
Litigation Status
As of August 2016, Pfizer is facing at least 80 Viagra melanoma lawsuits. The cases have been consolidated as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Viagra Timeline
1996 – First Patented
1996 – Viagra (sildenafil) patented
March 1998 – Approved by the FDA
March 27, 1998 – Viagra approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
June 2014 – JAMA study findings
June 2014 – JAMA Internal Medicine study finds an 84% increased risk of melanoma skin cancer associated with Viagra use.
April 2016 – MDL established
April 7, 2016 – Multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2691) established for federal Viagra skin cancer lawsuits in the Northern District of California.
April 2020 – Patent expiration
April 2020 – Viagra patent protection expires.