Lilly ICOS said its erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Cialis has shown promise in easing urinary problems from benign enlargement of the prostate in men.
A Phase II study showed “statistically significant improvement” in male patients with the prostate problem, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The trial lasted 12 weeks and consisted of asking an unspecified number of participants to fill out a seven-item questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms of BPH and the response to therapy.
Lilly may be hoping to find new indication-related success similar to that experienced by Cialis competitor Viagra, which was granted FDA approval for a new indication under a different name earlier this year. Pfizer’s Viagra was re-branded as Revatio to treat pulmonary hypertension, a rare, potentially fatal lung disease, in June.
For the first quarter of 2005, Cialis’ share of the U.S. ED market was 21.1 percent, compared with 10.4 percent for Levitra and 65 percent for Viagra, according to IMS Health data.