Pfizer Buys Rights To A Drug To Fix A Curved Penis
30 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // December 18th, 2008 // 6:46 am
Yes, the drugmaker will spend $75 million upfront and up to $410 million to buy the rights from Auxilium Pharmaceuticals to develop an experimental med for combating Peyronie’s disease, in which the buildup of collagen on the shaft of the penis reduces flexibility and makes intercourse uncomfortable. This afflicts an estimated 1 percent of men, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The injectable drug, known as Xiaflex, is also being investigated to treat Dupuytren’s contracture, which is the growth of collagen in the palm of the hand impairs the use of the fingers and is found in an estimated an 3 percent of whites, often of Northern European ancestry. The drug is also being tested for Frozen Shoulder syndrome, or Adhesive Capsulitis (see statement).
KT
$410m?!?!? Things are clearly looking increasingly desperate for PFE
Gregory
Well it’s $75 million and the rest follows if it is a success, so not $410m now. And who knows if it will succeed - it has a great hook.
Cali
Perhaps it can be co-promoted with Viagra!
Justice in Michigan
Wow, I can’t wait for the DTCs on this.
Couple in adjoining bathtubs. Woman looks over. Screams! Runs naked into sea.
Same scenario. Woman looks over. Says, “I thought you were _straight_!”
Guy tries to walk across room. Keeps tripping over himself. Voiceover: “You can’t get there, from here.” Background music: Peter, Paul, and Mary, “Screwball was a race horse….’
Lisa Van S
Attention Gentlemen!!! From a woman’s perspective…. A curved Penis can be an attribute…
Ed Silverman
Gregory,
Let’s not forget that there’s nothing like a great news hook, either.
Ed
ol cranky
From my limited understanding of peyronie’s it is excruciatingly painful. In addition to the small percentage of men afflicted with this disorder mentioned above, it is a rare but documented side effect to beta-blockers and some other drugs.
-OC (not being sophomoric for once)
dick
Thank you Lisa van S. Except in EXTREME cases, this is not an issue. As usual, advertising and marketing will create the “disease.” (i.e. aesthetic paranoia).
Gregory
dick - perhaps you mean in rare cases it’s not an issue. Like OC I understand that although it is a rare condition it is also very painful for the sufferer. It is a condition that you either do or do not have. Marketing and advertising can’t make men want this condition, regardless of the angle they choose.
Ed Silverman
Hi Folks,
Yes, this is a serious disorder and, from what I’ve read quite painful. Perhaps that’s something that can be agreed upon, without anyone getting bent out of shape.
ed
ol cranky
IS it me or is Ed channeling Henny Youngman?
Salmon
Let’s see this is due to fibrosis and will be approved as an orphan indication with less rigorous requirements.
So where’s the profit, that Pfizer is interested?
Unless there are a number of other drugs that actually induce fibrosis like perhaps Ketek inducing hepatic fibrosis.
Who knows what else is in development.
bendytoy
Tacky anagram alert: It seems that ‘I see sore penis day’ is an anagram of Peyronies Disease. Anyone from Hallmark listening? Cards available from the corner shop. OK, enough…
Lisa Van S
Ed,… How far will pfizer “stretch The Disease”…”painful”… Please!! When you men deliver a baby vaginally.. Then its ok to complain about pain!!
Justice in Michigan
OK, I apologize for taking lightly what more informed folks than I describe as a serious and painful disorder.
Steve-O
Lisa,
Why do women always think that child birth is more painful and more terrible than anything a man can experience.
A severly curved penis could be a painful experience, ask any guy that has had this disease and see.
Just as a man cannot experience child birth pain. Women cannot experience the pain associated with this disease. Don’t underestimate it just because it may be deemed “unimportant” to you.
As for Pfizer, I am sure they are looking for a buck and yes they will make this disease seem much more prevalent than reality proves.
JOHN
Say LISA,
When was the last time you got hit in the BALLS?
That area is a little (make that a lot) sensitive, just like your clit. Except your’s doesn’t enlarge to 8 inches. If it did I’m sure you would then know what real pain is when something goes wrong in bed. Remember, your PAIN is always more than the other person’s pain.
If giving birth is really so painful, why do women keep doing it?
Getting back to the story. Peyronie’s disease doesn’t have to be painful if you do it right. A slight curve can be helpful if you use it to attack the right spot. However you lose an inch or two in length and some in the width. I know, I’m just average now, in size that is, not in knowing how to use it.
Pfizer wants the drug because it can help in a few other diseases which are also painful not to mention life changing. I have some and sometimes it’s hard for me to wash my hair because of the limited movement in my hands and shoulders.
I’m happy that I saw the story because after twenty years of doctors not being able to help me, I now have information that I can use to help me change my life, I hope.
Lisa Van S
Steve and John,….. The two of you are such unique characters. We women have to deal with Man’s ills and wills every day!!!.. Please,.. spare us!!
Lisa Van S
John,.. On another note,… Women are stronger than men… Its a shame that you havent figured that out yet….
atlex
Salmon,
Just a note regarding orphan drug status for this product…if you read the press release, orphan drug status in the US is not an interest of Pfizer’s since it did not acquire US rights for the drug.
Atlex
Salmon
OK. I was really questioning the reported rates since the Mayo clinic claims Peyronie’s is “uncommon”.
This still doesn’t negate the possibility that the market for this drug may be elsewhere, i.e. additional indications e.g. scleroderma. It might also allow a different risk benefit analysis and approval of other drugs that induce fibrosis such as some of the newer antibiotics for drug resistant strep.
It’s called staged marketing.
Salmon
Salmon
PS
I’m not saying this is necessarily wrong. It depends how a company does it, e.g. if they’re open about the toxicity and the possible need for a treatment from the get go or do they market the drug, maximize market uptake, and then when a toxicity it hits the news media, add this on to maintain market and also increase sales of the treatment.
I’ve seen similar strategies with a couple of orphan drugs.
Considering how much Pfizer is paying for this and that they paid $300 million several years back for a $2 B/year drug, just has me a little curious as to what they’re really thinking.
Gregory
Ed pointed out that Auxilium is pursuing other indications and I think Salmon is right about marketing development - that’s normal. Can’t blame them for staying ahead of the curve.
atlex
I agree that the payoff is in other indications. I was more commenting on the US component, which is obviously not part of Pfizer’s plans.
Salmon
Hey!
It might even be useful for cottage cheese thighs.
Now that would be real money.
Where’s my broker’s number?
As for the US component, it may not be an orphan designation but it probably would be a fast-track approval. Plus many countries use approval in the US or EU as the basis for approval in their country. Whether it’s the US or EU typically depends on where the product is manufactured with approval in the country of manufacture being critical. Since this is a US based company a US approval would probably be of interest to PFE since many of the countries they may want to market it in would likely need a US approval first. Since this is this company’s first product anything that lowers the regulatory hurdles would be useful.
Tonio
Maybe Bill Clinton could help promote it.
It is painful and it must complicate aiming the stream. Similarly to ED, the symptoms of which Viagra aids, it can affect marital relations adversely.
Farmboy
1% is surely a low estimate. Try discussing those symptoms with your Doc, loads of fun. Then what, produce a curved erection in the office? Take pictures at home and have them part of your file? Sheesh. My bet is not-too-painful, milder cases of Peyronie’s are rarely/briefly discussed.
Still, decision to embark upon an injectable treatment option would require lots of thought.
Salmon
Farmboy,
You raise good points and we shouldn’t make fun of someone’s affliction. Having suffered from mental illness I know what it’s like to be made fun of publicly when you have an identifable illness, especially one that’s socially acceptable to make fun of and to use as a means of discrimination. I mean just look at this and many other blogs and how people here and even politicians use mental illness as an invective.
As for numbers of sufferers of Peyronie’s I simply don’t know what the true numbers are and I doubt anyone really does.
My own joke regarding cottage cheese thighs was not meant to show any disrepect to those with Peyronie’s or even those with cellulite since people are self conscious about that. It was only to indicate that I suspect that the true market lies elsewhere as it’s easy to visualize these other markets, they’re potentially much larger, and as this is a common marketing and development tactic for drug companies. If I offended anyone inadvertantly I’m sorry.
I think we should take your example and all stand up here and not allow any ridiculing of illnesses or disabilities and especially not when it’s used to attack and silence adversaries.
Salmon
Farmboy
Salmon,
Thanks, but don’t worry, I come from the no autopsy/no foul playground. I didn’t mean to whine, or come off as scolding. I honestly don’t think you can research, think, or otherwise ponder this ailment without some sort of humor entering the picture. As the saying goes, it could be worse…
axinte
no coment