Scientists in Italy have made a rather remarkable discovery: hydrogen sulphide - the vile smelling gas emitted from rotten eggs - has a role to play in the formation of penile erections. The discovery was made in a rather bizarre way: hydrogen sulphide was injected into the penile tissue of the discarded sex organs of eight male to female transsexuals. The discovery was made by Professor Giuseppe Cirino of the University of Naples.
The role of hydrogen sulphide gives researchers a new target for potential erectile dysfunction drugs. The market leaders - Cialis and Viagra - only have around a 75% success rate and although some current ED drugs will work for some patients but not others, we estimate that around 20% of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction do not respond to any of the pharmaceutical treatments currently available.
The effects of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) on men suffering from erectile dysfunction was, like so many drugs, discovered by accident. It was only after observations were made in wide-scale clinical trials of sildenafil in men being treated for angina that the role of nitric oxide in the formation and maintenece of penile erections was actually identified.
The new research will undoubtedly lead to the development of drugs for clinical trial in this very lucrative field so there will be more news on this front in the next few years - that much can be guaranteed!