Levitra (vardenafil HCl) is rapidly capturing a growing percentage of new prescriptions in the oral erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment market, according to data from Verispan Source Prescription Audit (SPA) [formerly called Scott Levin]. In the weeks since Levitra became available in the US, more than 1.5 million Levitra pills have been dispensed nationwide. Levitra is co-developed and co-promoted by Bayer AG and GlaxoSmithKline

Recent results from two independent, comparative European studies conducted to evaluate patient preference for the three oral ED treatment options indicated that Levitra was preferred over Viagra (sildenafil citrate) and Cialis (tadalafil). In a preliminary analysis, study investigator Frank Sommer, MD, PhD, reported that more men chose Levitra as their preferred option (47 per cent) compared with Viagra (34 per cent) or Cialis (19 per cent) at the recommended starting dose. 2 Levitra also was found to be the preferred option at the maximum dose (43 per cent compared with 40 per cent for Cialis and 17 per cent for Viagra).

"Even though Levitra has been on the market for just a few months, there has been a tremendous amount of excitement among my patients. Many have specifically asked if Levitra is right for them," said Randall B. Meacham, MD, associate professor and chief, division of urology, University of Colorado School of Medicine. "The fact that it has a rapid onset of action and provides a quality erection has a lot of men with ED asking for Levitra."

The broad awareness of ED as a common health condition and Levitra as a new treatment option has been due, in part, to the extensive reach and frequency that the first pharmaceutical sponsorship of the National Football League (NFL) has provided. Never before has the League and its sponsors embarked on such a comprehensive campaign focusing on men's health. Football is the most watched sport among men in the target audience. Each week, 120 million fans tune in to NFL games on television providing Bayer and GSK with a unique opportunity to reach them with important messages about men's health.