Accidental Blockbusters: Viagra
“What is luck', he said, 'but the ability to exploit accidents?” Jeanette Winterson
Viagra is a well-known name. It is used to treat over 90 %
of patients with erectile dysfunction but in fact was developed for an entirely
different condition.
Viagra was originally developed in Kent as a treatment for
hypertension. Phase 1 trials in patients in Swansea showed that whilst it had
little effect on angina, it did induce marked penile erections. And so Pfizer
decided to market it for erectile dysfunction rather than hypertension.
The drug inhibits an enzyme leading to dilation of the
veins increasing blood flow in certain areas. In the penis, this causes an
erection. However Viagra is also used in an area linked more towards its
original research field; pulmonary arterial hypertension. In this condition
patients suffer from constricted blood vessels causing shortness of breath, as
oxygenated blood cannot reach the heart. Viagra is used as one of the
treatments for this condition to help relax the blood vessels allowing efficient
blood flow to the heart.
Viagra, interestingly, has been documented as a drug of
abuse in sports, as athletes believe that opening up blood vessels will enrich
their muscles with oxygen, an especially useful feature in endurance events. In
fact it has already been a point of controversy when the Italian cyclist,
Andrea Moleta, was found with 82 Viagra pills on the Tour of Italy, hidden in
toothpaste bottles. This bizarre incidence, seeing as doping on Viagra would be
very unsubtle in such tight lycra, led to confusion at the time. Although no
doping allegations could be made, seeing as Viagra is yet a banned drug, he was
nonetheless excluded from the tour on suspicions of attempting to bypass blood
doping tests.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently
investigating whether to ban Viagra in sport, by testing in possibly the least
likely bunch of people to need the drug; collegiate athletes. Lacrosse players
at Marywood University are taking part in a study to look at whether an
increased blood-flow, and hence oxygen capacity, can really benefit athletes.
If this is found to be the case, it will be added to WADA’s extensive list of
banned substances.
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