Viagra and Mellenoma is There a Link?

Recent studies have suggested a possible link between the erectile dysfunction medication, Viagra® (Sildenafil) and melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer often caused by extensive ultraviolet radiation exposure. Viagra®, manufactured by Pfizer Labs, was approved in 1998 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat erectile dysfunction. Since Viagra’s inception, Pfizer has seen its annual sales of the erectile dysfunction medication reach nearly $1.9 billion.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that men using Viagra® may be 84 percent more likely to develop the deadly form of skin cancer than men who have not used the drug. Preliminary research indicates that phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) inhibitors, such as Viagra®, may increase the rapid spread of melanoma cells through a process known as “melanin synthesis,” causing the development of melanoma.

Statistical data from the American Cancer Society suggest that physicians in the United States diagnose approximately 76,000 cases of melanoma per year.  Approximately 6,400 men die each year from melanoma. The group being diagnosed with melanoma at the highest rate is men older than 49, also the target group for the erectile dysfunction drug. Researchers suggest that further investigation of the correlation between Viagra® use and melanoma is underway.

If you think you may have been affected please contact www.vanderlindenlaw.com today!