Revatio (Viagra)
Viagra's maker, Pfizer, a WebMD sponsor, announced the approval in a news release. Pfizer will repackage Viagra's key ingredient (sildenafil) and market it under a new name called Revatio.
Revatio would be used to improve exercise ability in patients with pulmonary hypertension, says Pfizer. The approved dose is limited to 20 milligrams three times daily. The white, round pills will look different from Viagra's blue diamonds and should be available by mid-July, says Pfizer.
Pulmonary hypertension involves dangerously high pressure in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs. It affects an estimated 100,000 people worldwide, says Pfizer.
Most cases of pulmonary hypertension are due to some underlying condition, such as chronic lung or heart disease. Nearly 300 cases, mostly women in their 30s, are diagnosed per year, says the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). There is no known cause.
Pulmonary hypertension involves dangerously high pressure in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs. It affects an estimated 100,000 people worldwide, says Pfizer.
20mg Revatio
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, and fatigue. Without treatment, patients live less than three years from the time of diagnosis, on average, says Pfizer.
Another oral drug, Tracleer, is also used to treat the condition. Revatio's effectiveness hasn't been evaluated in patients taking Tracleer, says Pfizer. The drug company says Revatio is the first oral treatment approved for patients with an early stage of the progressive condition. |
