{Viagra®} Viagra® May Cause Deadly Melanoma

To treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hyper- reported an increased rate of hospitalization for heart tension,doctors have prescribed Pfizer’s Viagra to over 45 million men since it hit the market in 1998. The ubiquitous little blue pill poses a potentially deadly threat to all men who have taken it.

According to a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine, Viagra® increases the incidence of melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers. The article found that men who had a history of taking Viagra® were approximately twice as likely to suffer from invasive melanoma.

Melanoma begins in the skin cells that synthesize melanin to pigment in the skin before metastasizing, or spreading, if not diagnosed early. Viagra® inhibits the enzyme PDE5A, increasing melanin production and potentially making melanoma cells more invasive, stimulating the cancer’s development. Melanoma accounts for less than 2% of skin cancer cases but a majority of skin cancer deaths.

Pfizer has not taken any steps to warn the public or its consumers about the association between Viagra® and melanoma. If you or a loved one has developed melanoma after taking Viagra®, call the attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights.