The long awaited ‘female Viagra’ – that can supposedly do for female sexual dysfunction, what Viagra has done for male impotence – may not be too far off.
Officially named Filbanserin, the drug is being developed by the pharmaceutical giants Boehringer Ingelheim, who have stated this week that it could be on the market as soon as 2011, if approved by authorities. A communications team has been hired to prepare for the commercial ‘push’ that will take place in the run up to its launch, which demonstrates the confidence that Boehringer have they will be successful in gaining approval.
Early studies suggest that Filbanserin is massively effective in treating female sexual dysfunction, a condition that, though still relatively mysterious to researchers, is thought to affect at least one in ten women. It is loosely defined as occurring when a woman has an ongoing lack of interest in sex.
While male impotence has been discussed often in the media, and medical professionals, lulls in the female libido are rarely discussed. Some treatments are available. Most prominently, in the form of testosterone patches. However, no drug has yet been widely approved across the world.
Some doctors remain sceptical, particularly those who are concerned about the ‘medicalisation’ of female sexual dysfunction. They argue that loss of libido is often a natural reaction to life circumstances – be it stress at work, a difficult relationship or general unhappiness. These are the same kind of criticisms often levied at anti-depressants. Yet anti-depressants have helped many people to overcome the chemical imbalance that is the root of their malady. Supporters of Filbanserin point out that, perhaps, this medication could do the same thing for female sexual dysfunction. Indeed trials of over 2,000 women have shown it to be effective, so Boehringer have huge faith that it will be popular.
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