December 12, 2014 — Pfizer has been hit with a lawsuit by a man who used Viagra and was diagnosed with melanoma, a highly-aggressive type of skin cancer.
According to the complaint, Corboy started using Viagra in 2008 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Four years later, a mole on his neck was diagnosed as melanoma. Corboy underwent surgery to excise the malignant tissue.
The lawsuit cites a study conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School and published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which linked Viagra and an 84% increased risk of melanoma.
The researchers warned that Viagra inhibits the cancer-fighting protein PDE5A, which could increase the invasiveness of malignant cells.
Corboy accuses Pfizer of negligence for failing to warn about the risk of skin cancer. He said he never would have used Viagra if he had been adequately warned. Pfizer is facing several other lawsuits with similar allegations.
If more studies suggest a causal connection between Viagra and cancer, the risk-benefit profile of the drug will come under scrutiny. Viagra treats symptoms of erectile dysfunction, but does not cure the underlying cause of the disorder. The risk of death from cancer may outweigh the temporary benefits.
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