A new drug for erectile dysfunction (ED) is showing promise in early testing. In a phase 2 clinical trial, researchers tested simenafil, an experimental medication, in 255 men aged 22 and older who had ED for at least 3 months. The men took either a placebo or simenafil at doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg as needed for 8 weeks.
All three doses of simenafil improved erectile function more than placebo. On a standard ED questionnaire, scores improved by about 9.5 points with simenafil versus 5.5 points with placebo. Men taking simenafil also reported better success with penetration and intercourse. For example, successful intercourse rates were 51% to 56% with simenafil compared to 31% with placebo.
Side effects were more common with higher doses. About 36% of men on placebo reported side effects, compared to 44% on 5 mg, 46% on 10 mg, and 62% on 20 mg of simenafil. Most side effects were mild or moderate. No serious side effects were reported.
This is a phase 2 trial, meaning the results are preliminary. Simenafil was not compared directly to other ED drugs like Viagra or Cialis, so it's not clear if it works better or worse. Also, the study did not include men with diabetes, so results may not apply to them. Larger phase 3 trials are needed to confirm these findings.