The corrected version of post # 9001 above:
The stock is down because of some abstracts that were presented at the AUA meeting 5/28 to 6/2 in San Diego. Specifically the Dallas study by Dr Fulgham ( but there are others.
interactive.wsj.com@2.cgi?user1612/t...
My comments are:
In NONE of those studies was the ACTIS band used. ( At least it is not mentioned in the abstract; I haven't gone to the AUA meeting ).The Actis band takes the effectiveness up into the 40%+ range.
The WSJ interactive, failed to show the VIVUS AUA abstract with their study of a combination of Alprostadil ( MUSE ) WITH Prazosin, a powerful vasodilator.That efficacy was reported to be 70%.
( I suppose, like everything else, we can discount it to 50% which is still good ). This medication will work on Viagra failures because it is Nitric Oxide independent.
Finally we continue to forget the most important question: how will Muse do in the absence of Viagra?
For those that like to pass over minor details as side effects , I think we need to focus on this:
Message 4327441
Eye Doctors Caution Viagra Users: Newly-approved Drug May Cause Visual Side Effects
SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, doctors at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the world's largest organization of eye physicians and surgeons, warned users of the newly-approved anti-impotence drug, Viagra, about the potential side effects that may affect vision.
Michael F. Marmor, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University and spokesperson for the Academy, said that a moderate percentage of people taking Viagra have experienced problems with their vision. "FDA clinical trials show that taking the medication, especially at higher doses, can cause some retinal dysfunction and affect the way we see for a number of hours." Patients reported visual disturbances described as bluish color tinge and light sensitivity. Dr. Marmor said a clinical study showed that electrical measures of retinal function dropped by 30 to 50 percent and lasted for at least five hours after taking a high dose of Viagra.
"On the surface, seeing the world with a bluish tinge may just be annoying," Dr. Marmor said. It is not known, however, whether or not the drug causes any permanent changes in vision. "We need to do some studies about the long-term effects of taking Viagra." In the meantime, Dr. Marmor urged those with retinal eye conditions such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa to use the drug with caution. "Stay at the lowest dose level possible," he said. According to the FDA, the recommended dose level for most patients is 50 mg.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest organization of eye physicians and surgeons (Eye M.D.s), with more than 23,000 members. The mission of the Academy is to achieve accessible, appropriate and affordable eye care for the public by serving the educational and professional needs of ophthalmologists. Visit the Academy's website at www.eyenet.org.
SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology
CO: American Academy of Ophthalmology
ST: California
My comment: The above info NEEDS to be READ VERY CAREFULLY:
a) the person commenting ,DrMarmor, is at the highest level of credibility, because he is the president of the American Academy of Ophthalmologicy the highest Eye organization in the US.
b) Dr Marmor is a Prof at Stanford, a top Medical School.
c) The retina studies were done independently of Pfizer funding and thus are more credible.
d) The retina studies were sophisticated retinal electrical studies that had not been previously done ( at least from what is available in the literature ).
e) The studies show a SIGNIFICANT retinal loss of function: 30 - 50% !!!! Again, repeat after me
30 - 50 % LOSS lasting F I V E H O U R S !!!!!!
Now it may come as a surprise to many that certain diseases, broadly called DEGENERATIVE diseases DON"T happen OVERNIGHT. Degenerative arthritis is one of them;it take years to develop, as a result of continued micro- injuries. Smoking and Emphysema is another example.
So what DrMarmor is essentially saying is that Viagra seems to cause a significant loss of retinal injury, sort of like a stunned retina: It is of such multiple continues micro injuries the retinal degeneration and blindness occurs.
f) to compound this, my early reports show that more and more people are going back to their Docs to pick up the 100 mg dose of Viagra: that is the dose were the side effects that DrMarmor is talkng about occur; the 50 mg does not work. Which is also why a) Viagra new scrips are down, and b) Alan Abelson quotes a price for Pfizer of $90
in the next few months.
g) none of the Viagra studies to my knowledge examined the retina through electrical studies.
All this is just beginning.This folks over the next year or two will be visiting their retinal specialist, gg, not their ophthalmologist; there is a difference. It is the retinal specialist that will pick up all these problems.Nobody else can.
My question to all VIAGRA users is: have you visited your Retina Specialist recently? If not, do you think you should?
Disclaimer:I bought more Vivus stock in the recent fall,
TA
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