Viagra Melanoma Plaintiffs May Have a Valid Point

January 2, 2015, 8:00AM. By Gordon Gibb

Cook County, ILIt may not have the legal community jumping in the morning quite yet. However, all eyes are on the emergence of a relatively recent issue putting a new spin on the subject of erectile dysfunction (ED) and the various byproducts that may come into play resulting from the treatment and management of ED: Viagra melanoma.

With apologies for anyone assuming a suggestion that men are tanning their respective members on the beach and suffering skin cancer issues as a result, the more accurate concern surrounding sildenafil melanoma (Viagra) is that its use could, or so it is alleged, have an impact on the invasiveness of skin cancer cells, and could make men who use Viagra to combat ED more susceptible to melanoma in general and not just, well…there.

Attorneys are expecting more activity in the Viagra lawsuit portfolio and are keeping their eyes on the horizon. In the meantime, the underpinnings of science that aims to put legs on the potential association between sildenafil and melanoma have already appeared.

In the June 2014 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, study authors Wen-Qing Li, PhD; Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH; Kathleen C. Robinson, PhD; and Jiali Han, PhD delved into that very subject through the undertaking of a prospective cohort study involving 25,848 US males. Participants who reported cancers at baseline were excluded from the study, which commenced in 2000 and encompassed a 10-year window for follow-up.

In the end, the study authors identified 142 cases of melanoma, 580 cases of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and no fewer than 3,030 cases of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). In the end, the study authors ruled out SCC and BCC as they did not observe an increased risk related to sildenafil. However, melanoma was another story. “Recent sildenafil use at baseline was significantly associated with an increased risk of subsequent melanoma with a multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.84 (95% CI, 1.04-3.22),” the researchers said.

The study authors concluded, “Sildenafil [Viagra] use may be associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma. Although this study is insufficient to alter clinical recommendations, we support a need for continued investigation of this association.”

Erectile dysfunction attorneys are gearing up for what could become a potential mass tort, given the observation and belief that the science is strong.

As for any prospective or active plaintiff assertion that there was no knowledge of the potential link between Viagra use and melanoma, that plaintiff has a point: a statement from a representative of Pfizer Inc., the pharmaceutical giant that manufactures and markets Viagra, notes that there is no mention of an association, or potential association, on the Viagra product labeling.

“There is no mention of melanoma in the Viagra product labeling,” said Pfizer spokesperson Steven Danehy, in a statement. “To date, Pfizer has not identified melanoma as a safety concern with the use of Viagra.

“Pfizer is committed to ensuring patient safety and regularly monitors and evaluates any adverse events reported to Pfizer directly or indirectly through secondary sources.”

At least one sildenafil melanoma plaintiff suggests that had he known about the potential link between Viagra and melanoma, he would not have used sildenafil. Viagra side effects plaintiff Edward Corboy Jr. noted that he was prescribed Viagra in 2008 and used it regularly until 2012, when he was diagnosed with melanoma. He claims that Pfizer should have known about the potential association.

Will we see more headlines in the coming weeks and months screaming Viagra Skin Cancer Diagnosis? Time will tell…