Gene Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Two new studies suggest that a type of gene therapy may be a safe and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the repeated inability to maintain an erection. An estimated 15 to 30 million (20-40 percent) of American men suffer from ED. For every 1,000 men between 40 and 69 years of age in the United States, 26 new cases of ED are diagnosed every year. Worldwide, ED affects over 150 million men.

Although ED is more common in men older than 65, it can occur at any age. An occasional episode happens to most men and is normal. But as men age, it is also normal to experience changes in erectile function. Erections may take longer to develop, may not be as rigid or may require more direct stimulation to be achieved. Men may also notice that orgasms are less intense, the volume of ejaculate is reduced and recovery time increases between erections.

ED may be a result of lifestyle choices, such as smoking, being overweight, eating unhealthy foods or avoiding exercise. It may also be psychological or result from physical conditions, such as diabetes, vascular disease, surgery or trauma, neurological conditions, hormone disorders and Peyronie's disease.

A wide variety of options exist for ED including psychological counseling, medications, mechanical devices and surgery. The cause and severity of the ED are important factors in determining the best treatment or combination of treatments for the individual. If ED is the result of a medical condition, the cost of treatment may be covered by insurance.

The researchers studied the effectiveness of a unique, locally-administered gene transfer technique for treating ED. The therapy consisted of a plasmid, or circular DNA construct, containing the gene for the Maxi-K protein.

This protein makes up the Maxi-K ion channel, which is a potassium channel; activation of this channel is critical for relaxing the vasculature and allowing an erection to take place.

The plasmid was designed to express Maxi-K in vascular smooth muscle cells and was injected into men with moderate to severe ED.

According to the study authors, human tests have primarily focused on safety. Animal tests have demonstrated that the therapy increases erectile function and other measures of sexual behavior.

The researchers suggested that men with ED could get the gene therapy treatment twice a year, based on human and animal research showing that the treatment lasts for up to six months.

They also observed that the gene therapy may work synergistically with drugs such as Viagra® and Cialis®, allowing patients to take lower doses of these medications.

The gene therapy appears safe; in humans no transfer-related adverse events were reported during two years of follow up. The study authors noted that unlike conventional oral therapies for ED, Maxi-K therapy does not require prior planning thereby enabling sexual spontaneity; also, it can be used by men taking heart medications.

The authors concluded that Maxi-K gene therapy may be a safe and effective future option for men whose ED is not treatable with oral therapy.

Some tips for preventing ED include limiting or avoiding the use of alcohol and other recreational drugs (marijuana, cocaine), quitting smoking, exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes daily), reducing stress, getting enough sleep (eight hours a night), dealing with anxiety or depression (through counseling and medication) and seeing a doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests. Although it may be uneasy to talk about, ED is a treatable condition and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Comments

[mo]

Call me bitter, but aren’t there more pressing potential applications of gene therapy than erectile dysfunction? While I do believe that sexual health is extremely important, I know that there are so many more devastating incurable diseases out there in need of new approaches. This seems to be a reflection of older men in lab coats determining how scientific advances are applied. In the same vane, what is being done for female sexual dysfunction??

[Mike]

Very interesting idea. I would be interested in any information on the cost of this therapy. Also - is this treatment safe if a person has ED and is trying to conceive, i.e. will it harm or change the baby in any way?

[Ben]

I'm with Mo on this one. While I think it's great that gene therapy might be a potential treatment for ED, I think researchers should focus on more serious, incurable illnesses. There are other effective treatment options for ED (like Viagra). There aren't effective treatment options for conditions like Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease. In my mind, these diseases are much more serious and deserve the most research.

[Toby]

Why would you want to undergo gene therapy for ED? Aren't medications effective? Plus, don't you have to undergo multiple treatments of gene therapy. I think what happens is most types of cells that receive new genes during gene therapy eventually die and are replaced by new ones. So, patients need to go back repeatedly to get long-term results.

[Erectile Dysfunction Doctor]

Gene Therapy may indeed become an effective treatment option for ED. More research and development is needed, but the therapy shows promise. rug therapy is not always possible for all patients, so this may be an alternative.

If you are interested in more research on ED and ED therapies, The Institute for Erectile Dysfunction Research has a Web site with 11,000 research abstracts, and they aggregate news on ED. See: http://www.erectiledysfunctioncentral.org

The institute will be following all developments with gene therapy as it relates to ED.

[Rachel]

Isn't it obvious why there is gene therapy research into ED? Gene therapy is the next "big thing," and to use this technology for a disease that affects millions of men (and feeds on their fears and insecurities, I might add) is a brilliant way to call attention to this therapy. Although I applaud this new therapeutic procedure, I am disappointed that other gene therapies have not been as widely publicized.

[mo]

There are also a number of natural therapies that have been tested for ED. Acupuncture, arginine, coleus, DHEA, ginseng and muira puama are just a few. One that appears NOT to work is deer velvet. Deer velvet, also called antler velvet, refers to antlers that have been removed in the growth stage when they are covered in soft velvet-like hair. These antlers are dried and the ground powder is sold as a dietary supplement in Western countries to purportedly improve sexual function and overall energy, decrease stress and strengthen the body. The first published human trial to investigate these claims yielded no statistically significant effects on sexual functioning in middle-aged men. However, the authors noted that these results reflected the average effect; they mentioned that some participants reported feeling benefits, although positive responses were not consistent. In addition, the quality of deer velvet products may vary considerably. Additional clinical research is needed in this area to determine the effect of deer velvet on sexual function. Future research might consider dosage level, length of treatment and whether deer velvet products are more effective in individuals with lower levels of androgens and/or impaired sexual function at baseline.

[Leah Cohen]

Other plant-based and nutritional supplements for ED may include: ginseng, maca, Muira puama and Pycnogenol®. Then of course, there are mind-body based therapies that may be of help here too - for instance acupuncture.

I have to say that I am a bit skeptical about using deer antler velvet for ED. Not only is the science supporting this use questionable, there is also the ethical issue of harvesting and sourcing. I really doubt that most deer velvet manufacturers can provide this quality assurance.

[Jolene]

Rachel,

You make a really good point. What better way to publicize gene therapy than suggest it may help with ED. While I do think gene therapy should be used for other, more serious health conditions, I think it's great that the therapy getting some time in the spotlight.

[Carter]

I agree with mo. While I understand what Rachel is saying, it is my understanding that most chronic ED is caused by personal lifestyle choices - aka obesity and thus low blood pressure and the resulting ED. I think that rather than pour money into gene therapy for this condition, there should be a public awareness campaign that encourages exercise and healthy dieting. I think that in our very sexual culture, people are more likely to be scared into getting into shape by the threat of ED vs. the threat of heart disease.

[Aiden]

I’m a bit surprised that gene therapy would be mentioned here – I thought this blog was focused on integrative treatments of a more “natural” origin.

[Jake]

Natural Standard covers both complementary AND conventional medicine. They recently launched a genomics database that features the latest in genetic research and inherited disorders. Like many natural therapies, genetics research focuses on prevention.

[Lily]

Isn't the safety of gene therapy unknown? I would be very reluctant to try a therapy that hasn't been proved to be safe unless I had a very serious, life-threatening condition.

[Shoshanna Karp]

It’s true that ED is not a fatal or serious condition, but it can be a distressing one that has a profound impact on a person’s quality of life. The big problem is how the drug companies have succeeded in pathologizing something that used to be known as being 50 years old. So rather than looking to lifestyle choices first, which, when I rule the world, will be the first thing to try, men have been “educated” to take another drug. Carter is right — maybe public health campaigns around cardiovascular health could add something like, “…and, by the way, good heart health can mean a better love life.

[Inquisitive]

What other illnesses are researchers studying with gene therapy? Is it showing promise for any particular disorder (other than ED)? Also, how can you find out about gene therapy clinical trials?

[molly]

As long as it is safe and cheap, I think tons of people would definitely go for it. I work in a pharmacy, and I have seen a lot of people who are on Viagra, Cialis or any other type of anti-ED drugs and have heart problems. This would be a great way to get them stable on nitrates and don’t have to worry about ED meds every single time.

[ATAD]

I would definitely have to agree that I think more research and studies have to be conducted for me to recommend this type of treatment. I still would not outweigh nutritional supplement options (i.e., vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and selenium) or lifestyle changes to reduce overall stress (i.e., meditation, visualization or even acupuncture).

[DT]

It’s wonderful news if gene therapy can treat ED. “It can be used by men taking heart medications.” It would be a plus for these patients. Hopefully, the insurance will cover it.

[Herbal07]

I also think that this is a good idea at first hand. It sounds a little bit like the outcomes that stem cell research has had in regard to rejuvenating aging cells that cause impotence. However, the side effects, I'm not too sure about. There is an interesting article on erectile dysfunction here, which discusses our current position. http://www.ultimate-herbal.com/ED_Erection_Problems_Solved.aspx

I think this blog gives us further options to think about in the near future though.

[Apcalis]

We are often taught that prevention is better than a cure and that it would be best for men who participate in the activities that lead to impotence (such as smoking, alcoholism, etc.) to do the best that they can to avoid having these problems later in life.

However, for men who suffer from these problems and are at the point of no return, it would be ideal for them to seek natural alternatives as a lead up to the gene therapy. I personally think that gene therapy is great, but it will be an expensive process that many men won't be able to afford. We've already seen similarities where impotent men who desired Viagra when it first came out were unable to afford it, and the same case could be seen here.

However, I think that some natural alternatives from credited online providers such as http://www.amorelo.com could provide a useful alternative for those men who have trouble with affording the gene therapy to overcome impotence.

[Scott]

I'm 40 years old and have had ED since I was 20 due to injury and other physical complications. Every relationship I have ever had has ended because of the inability to be sexually intimate. I know that people who have never suffered the loneliness and humiliation of this problem don't understand how deeply it can affect and destroy relationships and lives of some people. I can understand that. So I'll just ask for a little grace, and hope for something that will help in the future, as none of the current treatments have been able to help me and many others so far. Thanks for your work, and for listening.

[redherb]

Please don't get the wrong idea, but I prefer the natural way of helping a person who has ED -- like taking herbal medicines or by just keeping the body healthy.

[dunn]

I am 36, and I have had ED since I was 20. I am not happy with pills because they last for a few hours, and by the time I have built up my confidence, the effect of the pills has gone. A gene therapy would be quite acceptable because it would solve the problem, give me back my spontaneity and make me a normal human being for the following six months. As it is, my life is lonely and miserable. I understand that there are many serious diseases that could also require gene therapy, but I do not suffer from them from; I just suffer from ED. And I strongly believe this disease is very bad because it does not kill me in one go, it slowly kills me every single day of my life.

[Matt]

Hello my name is Matt. I’m an older man, and I need a treatment for my erectile dysfunction problem. I need to know if the generic Viagra® works. I found this Web site: http://www.xlpharmacy.com/generic-viagra/ It seems to be OK, but I’m not sure. Can anybody help me with some info about this Web site or maybe recommend another Web site that sells generic Viagra®? Thank you.

[Flavio Sousa]

"Call me bitter, but aren’t there more pressing potential applications of gene therapy than erectile dysfunction?"

Your comment is indeed bitter and unreasonable. ED is no joke. It is a disease that drastically affects the quality of life of millions of men and their partners. Moreover, the results of this research will open new doors and new possibilities for the treatment of other diseases.