Agence France Presse

Washington, May 25:

If Viagra has made sex possible for men suffering from impotence, a new drug introduced in the US on Monday aims to make it last longer. Much longer.

The new wonder medicine named dapoxetine unveiled at an annual meeting of the American Urological Association is designed to help millions of men around the world cope with premature ejaculation wreaking havoc on their sex lives.

Although much less publicised than erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation affects a significantly greater number of men, scientists said. According to the association, between 27 per cent and 34 per cent of males of all age groups are suffering from this condition, which is usually diagnosed when sperm release occurs two minutes or less into the sexual act, or even before penetration. Erectile dysfunction treated by Viagra and similar drugs affects an estimated 10 to 12 per cent of all men, usually in the older age group.

“The impact premature ejaculation can have on men and their partners can be devastating for a relationship and, currently, there are no truly optimal therapies for PE,” said Doctor Jon Pryor, the chief urologist at the University of Minnesota and lead researcher during dapoxetine’s clinical trials.

The test involved 2,614 men aged between 18 and 77, who maintained monogamous sexual relationships of more than six months and suffered from premature ejaculation. Each received 30mg or 60mg of dapoxetine over 12 weeks in two identical placebo-controlled trials.

The US Food and Drug Administration is reviewing its application.