Dive Brief:
- Starting immediately, patients 18 and over can be prescribed Vitaros (topical alprostadil cream) in the UK.
- Vitaros was developed by Apricus Biosciences, but is being marketed by Takeda.
- Vitaros was approved in the EU and Canada in 2013 based on strong phase III data. Approximately 2.3 million men in the UK have erectile dysfunction.
Dive Insight:
Vitaros comes in a single-use, disposable applicator. This noninvasive treatment option produces an erection within five to 30 minutes. In clinical trials, about 40% of men using 300 mcg of Vitaros had significant improvements in erectile function, compared with 21% of placebo-treated patients. In a separate open-label study, 90% of men who had used Vitaros for six months noted improvement in erection function compared with baseline. This is the first cream for treating erectile function.