Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Technology

Rapid ascent

By Barry Fox

1 April 2000

Pfizer has found a way to make Viagra work faster. The drug, sildenafil,
inhibits a body enzyme and enhances male erections. It is sold in tablet form,
because Pfizer feared the drug wouldn’t work so fast if inhaled, and might cause
nasal congestion. Now Pfizer researchers in Kent have created a novel form of
the drug called sildenafil mesylate, which is highly soluble in water and thus
rapidly absorbed (EP 967 214). Pfizer tested Viagra inhalers on dogs and later
people. They found there was little nasal congestion and rapid “onset of action”
at lower doses than with tablets.…

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