A little pink pill that has been hailed as a boost for female sexual desire will learn its fate if it will be accepted or rejected by the FDA. The FDA will decide if the drug should be approved for treatment of low libido.
The pill is named flibanserin and has been incorrectly dubbed a female Viagra. The drug will be reviewed for the third time by the FDA in five years. Since 2010, FDA has rejected the drug twice. It is either a woman’s prayers or a risky drug that will require medical intervention.
This time, however, the drug will get a fillip after a major public relation push from an advocacy group. Among the vociferous supporters of flibanserin are National Organization of Woman and 11 members of the Congress.
Dozens of women had visited FDA hearing rooms to vent their frustration and anguish caused by lack of sexual drive. They cited it as the biggest reason for marital discord.
Sprout’s CEO, Cindy Whitehead revealed that her company had foot the travel expenses of many women. In an interview, Whitehead had said that it was important to put the patient’s voice at the center of the discussion.
The FDA advisory panel had voted that flibanserin could be approved if Sprout took certain steps to reduce the pill’s risks. Critics of the drug are charging Sprout for using its publicity campaign to hide the weakness of the drug arguing that the mode of action of the drug has not changed since the last time FDA has rejected the drug.
Some 200 health professionals had sent signed open letters to the FDA in July contending that flibanserin is only marginally better than placebo when it comes to efficacy and improving libido. Further, the side effects of the drug can endanger the woman’s health.