( Viagra is still the rage. But one shoul...)Gene Therapy a Better Alternative to Viagra Please,Health

Viagra is still the rage. But one should pop the pill just before sex. The anxiety could even spoil all the fun . Now some good news for those suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) - gene therapy. And it could be effective far longer than the pills.

Human and animal trials suggest gene therapy could offer a credible alternative to the current treatments available. A University of Pittsburgh team, led by Dr Joseph Glorioso, tested an experimental gene therapy in rats with ED caused by nerve damage. The gene therapy used comprised the herpes simplex virus as a carrier and either a gene called GDNF, or one called neurturin, which both help promote nerve growth.

Rats treated with the gene therapy showed significant recovery and were able to regain normal penile function after four weeks. ED, often referred to as impotence, means inability to get a good enough erection to achieve satisfactory intercourse, but it varies in severity.

There are many causes, and many effective treatments, including drugs like the three licensed in the UK - Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. But not all types of ED respond well to medication - for example, ED caused by nerve damage following prostate cancer surgery. US researchers are hopeful that for these patients, and those who experience side-effects with medication, gene therapy may be a good alternative.

Meanwhile, scientists at Wake Forest University, with the help of Dr Arnold Melman from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, have been conducting the first human study of gene therapy for ED. Tests on 11 men with ED showed promising results. The treatment was well-tolerated, with few side effects, despite its delivery via an injection into the penis. Although the primary goal of the study was to determine its safety, it also showed the therapy improved erectile function in some of the men.

Dr Melman said: 'This is an exciting field of research because current t
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