Scherer To Help Pfizer Develop Faster-Acting Version Of Viagra
May 04, 1998 1:20 AM
By Andrea Petersen, Staff Reporter of The Wall Street
Journal
Viagra, Pfizer Inc.'s hot-selling new prescription drug for
impotence, may take on a new form to correct one of its
biggest drawbacks: Men must swallow the pill a full hour
before they have sex.
The effort could make Viagra, now the first potency pill,
the first potency wafer, able to dissolve easily in the
mouth in seconds.
Pfizer has signed a deal with R.P. Scherer Corp. to
develop a delivery form that could be a faster-acting
version of the blockbuster drug. Scherer's Zydis is a
thin-wafer "delivery system" that, if it is proven to work
well, could let patients take Viagra only minutes before
sex.
Pfizer says it is doing biochemical research on Zydis and
will proceed with human clinical trials if it can. But the
company adds that any new form is still years away.
Scherer wouldn't comment on the deal, and neither
company would disclose details.
Rumors that Troy, Mich.-based Scherer might get a seat
on the Viagra bandwagon had fueled a 10% rise in its
stock price in the past two weeks. On Friday, Scherer
closed up again at $73.5625, rising 56.25 cents, in New
York Stock Exchange composite trading. Pfizer closed
at $112.375, down $1.4375, also in composite trading.
"Zydis generally can push a drug into the bloodstream
much faster than when you swallow a pill," said Alex
Zisson, a drug analyst at Hambrecht & Quist. "Efficacy
might begin in 15 minutes rather than 60," and a glass of
water wouldn't be necessary. In pill form, patients must
swallow Viagra an hour before sex to give the drug time
to be absorbed in the digestive system.
Pfizer says it is too early to tell how much more quickly
a Zydis-enhanced Viagra would work.
"We're looking at different attributes we may add to
improve compliance or to make it more patient - and
physician - friendly," says Pfizer spokesman Andy
McCormick.
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