The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the once daily use of Cialis, a flagship erectile dysfunction drug made by Eli Lilly and Company. Daily use of 2.5 mg and 5 mg of Cialis (tadalafil) will allow men to attempt sexual activity at anytime between doses, the pharma major said.

Currently available in parts of Europe, this low-dose daily treatment option of Cialis may be most appropriate for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who anticipate more frequent sexual activity (e.g. twice weekly). For other men, Cialis taken as needed - the previously approved dosing regimen - may be most appropriate.

In clinical trials, when taken without restrictions on the timing of sexual activity, Cialis for once daily use improved erectile function over the course of therapy.

"ED can be a chronic condition like diabetes or high blood pressure," said Ridwan Shabsigh, M.D., Director of the Division of Urology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York. "As a urologist, I know couples like to have choices and will appreciate the availability of Cialis for once daily use."

Cialis for use as needed transformed the US. ED market when it was approved in 2003 as the first and only PDE5 inhibitor clinically proven to provide sustained efficacy for up to 36 hours. Cialis for once daily use provides a new option for men who may be looking for a dosing option that can be taken without regard to timing of sexual activity. In consultation with their physician, patients now have the freedom to choose the dosing regimen that is appropriate for them, the company said in a release.

"We strive to provide patients with solutions that fit their needs and Cialis for once daily use delivers on this promise," said Shawn Heffern, Cialis US director, Brand Marketing, Lilly. "Now, patients have two options - some may prefer the up to 36 hours of efficacy provided by Cialis for use as needed while others may want the unique benefit provided by this daily dosing option."

Additionally, Lilly's wholesale pricing for Cialis for once daily use will be comparable to Cialis for use as needed such that patients who currently use two or more pills per week of Cialis for use as needed should not experience higher treatment costs with Cialis for once daily use.

The FDA's approval of Cialis for once daily use was based upon the evaluation of the comprehensive data package for the daily dosing option. The data include results from three phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo- controlled studies. Men with ED who participated in these clinical studies and who took tadalafil 2.5 mg and 5 mg once daily without regard to their timing of sexual activity experienced improved erectile function compared with those taking placebo. Cialis 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg have been approved in the United States for as-needed treatment of ED since November 2003.

The most commonly reported adverse events were headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, nasal congestion, flushing and pain in limb. Most adverse events reported with tadalafil were transient and generally mild or moderate.

ED is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. In many cases, however, both psychological and physical factors contribute to the condition.

Cialis (tadalafil) is approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction on an as-needed basis or in a daily regimen. The recommended starting dose of Cialis for use as needed in most patients is 10 mg, taken prior to anticipated sexual activity. The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg, based on individual efficacy and tolerability. As part of a daily regimen, Cialis may be taken as 2.5 mg or increased to 5 mg, based on individual efficacy and tolerability.

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own world-wide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.