In a clinical trial of Avanafil, 646 men with ED were given 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg doses of the medicine. All patients experienced improvement and increased ability to get an erection within 30 minutes of taking the medication.

Vivus is expected to continue safety and effectiveness studies on this new treatment before filing for FDA approval. If approved, Avanafil will enter the highly competitive, multi-billion ED treatment market in the US, which is already dominated by the blockbuster little blue pill (Viagra), Cialis and Levitra. The company hopes that Avanafil’s quicker onset will give it an edge over competitor drugs.

Another ED drug marketed by Vivus is Muse (alprostadil). The brand name of this drug, MUSE, stands for Medicated Urethral Suppository for Erection, and as the name suggests this drug is administered as a urethral suppository. Ouch!

Earlier this month, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. announced that their ED drug, Udenafil, is en route to FDA approval and US marketing authorization.

With Pfizer’s worldwide patents on Viagra (sildenafil citrate) expiring in a few years (2011-2013), the impotence treatment market is definitely on the edge of some dramatic changes with more and more new rival drugs (brand and generic) lining up for FDA approval.

ED patients should be excited about these upcoming competitors, which will hopefully help reduce the skyrocketing prices of prescription ED treatments.