Furious Seasons

February 10, 2009

Dept. Of OMG: Premature Ejaculation Pill Approved In Sweden, Finland

J&J today announced that its premature ejaculation drug dapoxetine (to be marketed as Priligy) was just approved in Sweden and Finland. The drug was rejected for US approval by the FDA three years ago for reasons that remain under wraps. The company is pursuing approvals worldwide. One analyst expects the drug to generate $575 million in sales in 2011.

As tempting as it is to snigger at the problem the pill is supposed to address, Bloomberg reports that from 4 percent to 30 percent of men experience premature ejaculation. Which must just suck. The idea of having to take a pill to address this must suck even worse.

If the drug ever gets approved in the US, I simply cannot wait to see J&J's ad campaign. Maybe they can give the drug a snappy name like Delayzac.

UPDATE:

As it turns out, this drug is actually a short-acting SSRI. According to its Wikipedia entry:

"Dapoxetine was created by Eli Lilly and Company and is credited to biochemist David T. Wong. Originally known as LY 210448, it was being developed by Lilly as an antidepressant. Eli Lilly sold the patent to Johnson & Johnson for $65 million dollars and future royalties in December 2003."

There are all kinds of reasons to be concerned about a drug from the SSRI class being widely-prescribed such as suicidality, so one expects this drug's, um, performance will be closely watched.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at February 10, 2009 10:59 AM

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Comments

Best drug I found for premature ejaculation was Seroxat... though if a woman wants to sleep with a homicidal, suicidal maniac is still unknown!

The MHRA are running a series of ads at cinemas here in the UK. They, along with Pfizer, are targeting online pharmacies, basically telling us that the drugs obtained online [without a prescription] are dangerous. Some, they say, contain rat poison! They only need to look up the ingredients of Gardasil to see that approved drugs also contain sodium borate.

In the main it is erection pills that are being sold online. The ad shocks and warns of purchasing online drugs.

Pfizer manufacture Viagra

No conflict of interest then!

Fid

Posted by: BOB FIDDAMAN at February 10, 2009 11:17 AM

It's an SSRI.

This is a well-known side effect of many SSRI's. David Healy has written that they're much more reliable for treatment of this problem than for depression. I'm sure he thought he was being ironic when he wrote that. Sigh.

He also pointed out that duloxetine (Cymbalta) was originally shelved in the late 80's because of urinary retention problems. And now it's being marketed as an incontinence treatment in the UK.

Posted by: Johanna at February 10, 2009 01:28 PM

Maybe they can use a banana in their ad. Real or Andy Warhol.

Posted by: susan at February 10, 2009 01:49 PM

the first thing I thought when I saw this was it's got to be an ssri and then you said nothing...I just saw an article elsewhere and lo and behold, yes, it's an SSRI and then I saw your update...

but DAMN...I KNEW it!!

Posted by: Gianna at February 10, 2009 04:02 PM

Is this supposed to be taken on an "as needed" basis? That's just great, stopping and starting an SSRI on a random basis -- we all know how that works. Premature ejaculation will be the least of your problems if you do that. I'm with Fid -- it's great as long as you don't mind making love to a homicidal, suicidal maniac who may end up with all sorts of sexual and fertility issues down the line. I bet that's not in the advertising or package insert.

Posted by: Sara at February 10, 2009 04:59 PM

Peace be with you Philip

I am not 100% sure I even know what premature ejaculation is. But I really like your "Delayzac" name. Maybe J&J could have a naming contest. How about Hardashel?

love eternal
tad

Philip Dawdy responds: haha good one. i think we should help j&j with a naming contest.

Posted by: tad at February 10, 2009 05:04 PM

You would only need 8 patients to show that paxil works for this condition. Surprise surprise, the same drug that inhibits sexual function in about a third of men helps those who are too quick out of the gate.

Posted by: Doug Bremner at February 10, 2009 07:00 PM

It must be too late at night and I will have to read this thread over tomorrow? I'm confused...are you now telling me that body parts get depressed? As for names, how about perkyup?

Posted by: Sorrowful at February 10, 2009 08:44 PM

Nice comment from Doug.

Seroxat will fuck you up but hey you'll be a stallion in the sack!

As for a brand name, what about, 'Prolongoxat'

Maybe they could do controlled release [CR] tablets :-)

I'd just love to see the 'withdrawal' advice :-)

Fid

Posted by: BOB FIDDAMAN at February 11, 2009 12:12 AM

May I just question the wisdom of including "pox" in the name of any drug that seeks to address issues concerning one's "wedding tackle"?

Matt

Posted by: Matthew Holford at February 11, 2009 05:02 AM

LOL. "Perhaps we should go upstairs, dear? I'll just go and get Da Pox."

Matt

Posted by: Matthew Holford at February 11, 2009 05:04 AM

I guess 'Cox' would be more apt.

Fid

Posted by: BOB FIDDAMAN at February 11, 2009 07:41 AM

So the drug companies are admitting that ssri's cause delayed ejaculation? How about anorgasmia? So do you really want to take something like that?

Posted by: Naturalgal at February 13, 2009 05:57 AM

Fidders wrote:
"I guess 'Cox' would be more apt."

"Coxerectine"? Or is that too obvious? I tell you, mate, we're good at this - I'm firmly anticipating a call from the marketing department of some big pharmaceutical company, any day now!

Matt

PS I've just thought of a better one: "Rampant Rhino Pills"! If it were me, I'd start looking for alternative outlets to sell the stuff - you know, aim for a different market - Anne Summers is an obvious choice!

Posted by: Matthew Holford at February 13, 2009 10:57 AM

How about Wisepig - Guaranteed to keep the wolf from the door :-)

Fid

Posted by: BOB FIDDAMAN at February 14, 2009 10:17 AM

I would recommend avoiding pills... because you need to focus on your thinking as well as the physical solution. Breathing is key. Here's a quick tip. Exhale on your way IN... and Inhale on your way OUT. Focusing on your breathing helps you calm down and stay relaxed, plus, you're less likely to finish when you're exhaling. if you're looking for help, you can get more free tips here at my website: http://www.TheEnduranceReport.com

Posted by: Charlie at June 17, 2009 06:30 PM