News

Drug Approved For Most Unfortunate Affliction

by Seth Millstein

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first non-surgical treatment for men with curved penises. It may sounds silly, but Peyronie’s Disease is no laughing matter. It affects between five to ten percent of the male population, causes “tangible scar tissue plaque” inside the penis (!), and can make sexual intercourse impossible. The new drug, Xiaflex, is the first non-surgical treatment for Peyronie’s, but taking it is no walk in the park: It has to be injected twice into the penis, which is then massaged until the scar tissue breaks down.

Peyronie’s disease is a connective tissue disorder that causes collagen-based plaque to grow on the outside of the penis, which reduces elasticity and can ultimately result in a bent penis. The disease affects 65,000 to 120,000 people per year, but only an estimated four to ten percent of those men seek treatment for it. Xiaflex was developed by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, and is approved for Peyronie’s Disease suffers who possess a penis curvature of 30 degrees or more.

“Peyronie’s is a rare, disfiguring condition that has devastating effects on male self-image and relationships,” says Dr. Salvatore J. Giorgianna Jr. of the non-profit Men’s Health Network in a press release. “Availability of this medication provides patients with a safe and effective option compared to currently available treatments, which have significant limitations.”

Up until now, the only available method for treating Peyronie’s disease was surgery, the side effects of which include potential shortening and erectile dysfunction. But Xiaflex’s side effects, frankly, sound even worse: Swelling, bruising, pain, and potential fracturing or rupturing of scar tissue, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.