Drug Companies Developing 'Female' Viagra

Feb. 19, 2004 -- Meg Ryan may have best demonstrated one women's approach to sexual dysfunction in the famous deli scene in When Harry Met Sally when she spontaneously reenacted a very satisfied lady, to the shock of Billy Crystal.

For women — faking it — has long been the easiest solution for sexual dysfunction. Men got Viagra five years ago, leaving their female counterparts to wonder "what about us?"

Several drug companies are searching for that answer, although as of yet, there is not a single sexual enhancement drug approved by the FDA for women, just some over-the counter remedies.

And the company that succeeds in getting one approved is in for a big payday.

Industry projections claim 25 percent to 45 percent of women suffer some form of sexual dysfunction. Nexmed spokeswoman Vivan Liu, whose firm is among those looking to create a female Viagra, says this market could equal "multibillions" of dollars to the company with the most effective drugs.

"[That's] definitely a lot of incentive," said Liu.

Psychology and Biology Complicate Research

The drug companies might be motivated, but they face a tougher task with the female Viagra, than the male version.

Cindy Meston runs the Female Sexual Psychophysiology Lab at the University of Texas and has been studying Female Sexuality for more than a decade. She spoke with ABCNEWS and said the male Viagra was easier to develop, because "women are more complicated."

At her lab, Meston is researching treatments for sexual dysfunction and recruits women ages 18 and older for the programs. Meston said in one study, the women on anxiety medications watch steamy videos, but even when they're focusing on their arousal, it's not that easy to gauge the results.

"If you give men a drug that causes an erection, he attends to it, he notices it, and he's most likely to say I'm sexually aroused," said Meston. "But if you give women a drug that increases their genital blood flow, some women don't notice it."

In other words, women are wired differently. Female arousal can depend on who her lover is, and what kind of relationship they have and how comfortable they are with their own sexuality.

So can this problem be solved with a pill?

"Oh, I don't think there will ever be one magic pill for all women," said Meston. "I think that there may be a few different pills that will have a beneficial effect on very specific groups of women with very specific problems."

Nosing Around for a Solution

For women, relief may actually not arrive in a pill.

ABCNEWS visited Palatin labs where the sexual happiness of millions of couples may be achieved through a nasal spray. When used, the mist is designed to stimulate the brain into activating erogenous zones. Studies show it appeared to work for rats, who when medicated, behave more like rabbits.

"This is the rats' world version of wearing a low cut dress I guess," said Palatin Technologies research scientist Annette Shadiack.

The nose spray has also tested well in clinical trials for women, but FDA approval is still pending.

Nastech Pharmaceutical Company has also reported positive results in treating FSD with a clinical trial of an intranasal formulation of apomorphine.

Vivus is another bio-tech firm which gave ABCNEWS rare, behind the scenes access. They're testing a female version of a topical prostaglandin already FDA approved and available for men. Vivus is also developing a product called Alista, which is a topical alprostadil, which will treat female sexual desire, not just arousal.

Medical Solution or Over Medicated?

Vivus, Nexmed and Palatin are taking on the Goliaths like Pfizer which continues to earn staggering multi-million dollar profits from Viagra, also in the high-stakes race to develop a product for women.

But according to psychiatry professor Leonore Tiefer, of Albert Einstein's medical schools, that competition is more about profits than true medicine.

"People have sexual dissatisfaction God knows — but are they medical problems?," asked Tiefer. "No, don't go to your doctor. Go to a bookstore. Read. Read a few books. Learn some things about how the mental and the physical work together."

But some folks, like Carolyn Della-Calse and Glen Braken, said they tried all that and nothing seemed to work. After 14 years of happiness, in her late 40s, Carolyn began to lose her sexual appetite.

So the genteel couple from Alabama shopped around for provocative ways to spice up their love life such as sexy lingerie or steamy videos, but none of it worked. Their sexual encounters dwindled, until Glen discovered an option.

"There was an ad for a sexual study for a local clinic, for a sexual dysfunction for females study," said Bracken who encouraged Carolyn to enlist.

"I thought, well maybe, you know, this might be something that, I might qualify for and get some information," said Carolyn.

As part of the study, Carolyn was given a 30 day supply of a mystery potion that looks a lot like cold cream. "You applied it to the genital area and, and you were encouraged to have a lotta foreplay," said Carolyn.

And the results were just what she had hoped they would be: "I could tell from the beginning as soon as I applied it that, hey, you know, this stuff, there's something to this," said Carolyn. "[The sex] was better than it had been in a good while, we were both very excited about it."

Although they'll likely be more excited if the FDA approves the treatment. With their part of the testing over, the lab had to cut off their supply. It may take two years or more to get FDA approval for this, or any drug like it for women.

As many women hold their breath and wait for the cream, spray or pill that might work for them the race is on to be first and the prize, undoubtedly, billion and billions of dollars.