In August of 2016 seven men have filed lawsuits against ELI Lilly and Co alleging that they suffered skin cancer as the results of taking Cialis. Cialis is an erectile dysfunction drug. These men join a growing number of lawsuits filed against the makers of erectile dysfunction drugs such Pfizer who manufactures Viagra. These lawsuits claim that Eli Lily and Pfizer should have known of the link between the erectile dysfunction drugs and increased risks of melanoma.
Erectile dysfunction drugs utilize something called PDE5 inhibitors, which impact the flow of blood to the penis. A recent study from the medical journal ‘Cell Reports’ in March of 2016 showed that PDE5 inhibitors lead to increased tumor growth. Additionally, an article published in JAMA in 2014 found that men who had taken Viagra had an 84% increased risk of developing or exacerbating invasive melanoma. This study also showed that men who had ED and did NOT take Viagra had no increase in the incidence of melanoma. Sildenafil/Viagra use was not shown to increase the chances of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma cancers, which are far less dangerous than malignant melanoma. The two studies did not recommend warnings to the labels of erectile dysfunction drugs, however they did indicate the need for further investigation to determine the safety of drugs like Cialis and Viagra.
Brett H. Oppenheimer, attorney, is investigating possible legal recourse for patients who have developed melanoma cancer after using Cialis or Viagra. Contact Brett to schedule a free consultation to better understand if you may be able to seek legal action for your losses.