Gene Therapy May Treat Erectile Dysfunction (HealthDay)

TUESDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Gene therapy may be a way totreat erectile dysfunction in men who do not respond to pills such asViagra, researchers report.

Maxi-K gene therapy is a gene transfer that improves erectiledysfunction. Two studies using the gene were presented Tuesday at theAmerican Urological Association's annual meeting, in Orlando, Fla.

"Gene transfer technology has the potential for long-term improvementfor erectile function," lead researcher Dr. Arnold Melman, a professor ofmedicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, saidduring a morning teleconference Tuesday.

"The market for erectile dysfunction is quite large," Melman said. "Andmedications such as Viagra don't work very well in 40 percent of men."

Melman noted that a recent survey showed that 50 percent of urologistswould consider switching their patients from their current medications togene transfer treatment. "So, we think this will be well-accepted byphysicians and patients," he said.

Results of a phase I trial testing gene transfer in 11 men witherectile dysfunction who had failed other therapy showed that genetransfer was safe and also had restorative effects. Four different doseswere tried during the trial. Men receiving the highest dose showedimprovement for up to six months, Melman said.

"These men had normal sexual function for six months and then went backto the way they were," Melman said. He added that two doses a year wouldbe enough for most men to maintain their normal sexual function.

During two years of follow-up, none of the men reported anyabnormalities after the gene transfer. The procedure was safe, and noadverse effects were seen, Melman said.

Based on these findings, Melman's group is moving on to new trials andhopes to have a product on the market within two years.

In another trial, four monkeys were fed a high-fat diet, which reducedtheir sex drive. After the monkeys received a Maxi-K gene transfer, theybecame friskier.

In addition, the number of partial and full erections increased aboutfivefold, the researchers found. Also, the frequency of ejaculationsincreased among the monkeys that received the gene transfer. Moreover, thegene transfer affected how the monkeys behaved with female monkeys.

"The most fascinating thing is there was the increased socialization,"lead researcher George J. Christ, a professor of urology and head of theProgram in Cell Tissue and Organ Physiology at the Wake Forest Institutefor Regenerative Medicine, said during Tuesday's teleconference. "Afterreceiving a gene transfer and regaining sexual function, they felt betterabout themselves."

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