Results Of The First Human Trial For Gene Transfer Therapy For The Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction

Main Category: Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation
Also Included In: Genetics
Article Date: 20 Oct 2006 - 14:00 PST

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UroToday.com - Gene therapy for erectile dysfunction, the gene transfer of relevant molecules involved in the regulation of penile erection, has emerged from just an imaginable possibility to an exciting reality.

In this phase I "safety" trial, ion channel gene transfer with hmaxi-K was used as an approach taking advantage of the smooth muscle biology of the penis and the basic exchange of ions that cause penile erection. Nine men with severe erectile dysfunction were enrolled, all showing no drug-related adverse events or intolerability. Amazingly, 2 men achieved sustained functional erection improvement. While further clinical safety and efficacy objectives clearly remain to be met, this study is a major development in erectile dysfunction management.

Editor's note: Gene Therapy is the "Holy Grail" of medicine, curing disease at the molecular level. In this case Dr. Melman's lab is entering a new arena of clinical studies after more than a decade of investigating the role of potassium channels in normal and abnormal erection physiology. The concept here is to improve natural erections by modifying cell to cell signaling responsible for smooth muscle relaxation. This first clinical step is to demonstrate that the vector with the coded information for the maxi-K channel sets up in the penis without causing systemic side effects. The next area of clinical testing will be to evaluate efficacy in men with erectile dysfunction.

Abstract 686; 2006 AUA Annual Meeting (Atlanta, Ga. May 20-25)
Reviewed by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Arthur Burnett, MD

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