Addyi (Photo : European Pharmaeutical Review)
The first female libido pill, Addyi, made by Sprout Pharma is out in the market, beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015.
The medication is taken every day but must not be taken with other drugs or alcohol. Otherwise, its effectiveness would be watered down, reports Associated Press.
With an estimated 5 million to 9 million women who are suffering from libido problems, the market could be worth more than $2 billion. This market represents an untapped financial opportunity for pharmacies.
The production and sale of Addyi is landmark medical event that could lead to the manufacture of more drugs that target desire for both genders, says Kim Wallen, Emory University psychology professor. But while Viagra, the popular medication to treat male erectile dysfunction, works by boosting blood flow to the penis, Addyi acts on the brain chemicals linked with desire.
Since the 1990s, pharma giants such as Procter & Gamble, Pfizer and Bayer had attempted to make female libido drugs but discarded the venture. Boehringer developed Addyi and sold it to Sprout after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected it because of side effects such as dizziness and nausea.
Known by its generic name filibanserin, Addyi buyers with private insurance would co-pay ranging from $30 to $75 monthly, said Cindy Whitehead, CEO of Sprout, in August prior to getting the FDA approval.
After four years, Sprout got the nod of the FDA but with the mandatory bold warning that users could faint if they take it with alcohol or other medications. But because of those restrictions, Dr. Lisa Dabney of Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York sees a limited patience audience for Addyi. She shares her experience of patients asking about the female libido pill but they lose interest when they learn of the restrictions.
