RE: "I am confused as to what you mean by "have a note in the Readers Digest, people ask their Doc about the pill and surprise only the viagra is available (conveniently approved soon after this note). The part in parenthesis means the note in the magazine I presume??? Construction?"
This is my interpretation: Reader's Digest has a note in its "Medical News" section that mentions that oral medications for ED will soon be available. Other treatments, including intraurethral therapy are mentioned, only to imply that these are exceedingly difficult to use or painful. Of the three medications that are mentioned (apomorphine, phentolamine, siladenfil) only one, Viagra (siladenfil) is nearing approval. Therefore, when patients go to their doctors for "the pill" they will discover that only Viagra is available.
Don't you think it's a little more than coincidental that several articles have come out (Newsweek, Ladies' Home Journal, Reader's Digest, even Barron's) all with the same spin, namely that oral medications are now coming and implying that all other treatments are ineffective or painful? And just happening to mention Viagra (with a side mention of other medications that will not be available for the foreseeable future). Doesn't it strike you as interesting that these articles all coincide with the reported submission of Viagra for NDA approval to the FDA? And that the pace has increased prior to the expected approval and release of this drug? I guarantee, this is not a coincidence.
Of course, if Vivus advertises adequately to primary care MDs and to urologists, they will be aware of other alternatives to offer patients who come in requesting information on "the pill". But I would like to see Vivus using some PR also by, for instance, promoting Muse for its more rapid response, or for more difficult situations, or suggesting that it's really not too difficult to use.
Sorry for being cynical, but the payment scales for writers are paltry enough that they can't be expected to spend a lot of time investigating every angle for a minor piece.
Incidentally, the plant approval for Vivus is totally independent of the (expected) approval of Viagra. Pfizer, of course, will have to have their plant approved for producing Viagra prior to receiving the initial approval. LB |
