News summary

New erection drug acts centrally

A first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction that acts centrally on the brain has been launched by Abbott Laboratories (see PJ, 23 June, p864). Uprima, a sublingual formulation of apomorphine hydrochloride, dissolves within 10 minutes.

Professor Jeremy Heaton of Queen’s University, Canada, said at a recent press briefing that sublingual apomorphine produced an erection within 20 minutes and could be taken every eight hours. Absorption was unaffected by food and no dosage adjustment was required in the elderly. Comparing sublingual apomorphine with sidenafil (Viagra), he said that sidenafil took 60 minutes until onset of action and could only be taken every 24 hours. Absorption of sidenafil was affected by food and gastric content and a dosage adjustment was required in the elderly.

Mr David Ralph, consultant urologist, Middlesex Hospital, London, said that both drugs had a different mode of action and their combination might be used in future.

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