Drug promises an alternative to surgery, but can cause serious injury.
Between 5 and 10 percent of men have Peyronie’s disease, the malady that causes the erect penis to curve. In its most extreme manifestations, this can cause pain and make intercourse difficult if not impossible.
Prior to Friday’s approval of Xiaflex, the only course of treatment for Peyronie’s was surgery, with not only its usual inherent risks but also the potential of erectile dysfunction. Xiaflex treatment, on the other hand, consists of “eight injections and four “penile modeling procedure[s],” according to The Washington Post.
The Post goes on to note that Xiaflex was originally approved “in 2010 to treat Dupuytren’s contracture, a disease that prevents patients from fully extending their fingers.” A visit to the company’s website reveals the following serious side effects relevant to treatment of that disease:
Tendon rupture or ligament damage. Receiving an injection of XIAFLEX may cause damage to a tendon or ligament in your hand and cause it to break or weaken. This could require surgery to fix the damaged tendon or ligament. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have trouble bending your injected finger (towards the wrist) after the swelling goes down or you have problems using your treated hand after your follow-up visit.
- Nerve injury or other serious injury of the hand. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get numbness, tingling, or increased pain in your treated finger or hand after your injection or after your follow-up visit.
- Allergic Reactions. Allergic reactions can happen in people who have an injection of XIAFLEX because it contains foreign proteins. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction after an injection of XIAFLEX: hives; swollen face; breathing trouble; or chest pain.
For more information read the original Washington Post article here.