An update on emerging drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction is an extremely frequent and extensively studied condition, currently affecting the lives of tens of millions of men around the globe. The extensive knowledge of its pathophysiology has led to the development of phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitors, which can facilitate sexual intercourse in a large number of patients. However, an ever-increasing number of patients is unresponsive to these drugs due to underlying comorbidities or previous surgery. Different molecular pathways need to be addressed to provide treatment for a larger patient population. Areas covered: In this paper, we will review the underlying molecular pathways, discuss already available treatment options and their limitations and provide an overview of the newest therapeutics in development. Centrally and peripherally acting agents will be discussed separately. Additionally, newest advances in regenerative medicine options will be discussed. Expert opinion: Even though novel drugs have not been tested in a phase III setting, several phase II clinical trial results are eagerly awaited. These newest therapeutics could be applied as monotherapy or combination therapy in the subset of patients unresponsive to traditional treatment options.

Keywords: Erectile dysfunction; Maxi-K channel activators; NO donors; Rho/RhoA-inhibition; clavulanic acid; melanocortin receptor agonists; novel treatment; phosphodiesterase 5-inhibitors; regenerative therapy; soluble guanylate cyclase activators.