FDA panel backs 'female Viagra' approval, controversially

On Thursday, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted, 18 to 6, in favor of approving flibanserin, a drug that has shown a modest effect on female libido. The FDA usually follows the advice of its expert committees, but many of those who voted in favor did so reluctantly, noting the small boost in desire demonstrated by Sprout Pharmaceutical's libido pill and the side effects. A similar panel unanimously rejected the drug five years ago, and the FDA has said no twice in the same period. The agency will issue its decision by Aug. 18.

Although flibanserin is often called the "female Viagra," it would actually be the first drug approved for increasing sexual desire in either sex; Viagra and other "erectile dysfunction" drugs treat physical impotence. Before the vote, the FDA panel heard almost two hours of testimony, mostly from supporters of the drug, some flown in by Sprout. (You can watch Katherine Campbell, one of the supporters Sprout flew in, tell her story.)

Advocates of the female libido pill, organized (by Sprout and other drugmakers) under the banner "Even the Score," argue that sexual dysfunction medicine has been unfairly focused on men. Critics of flibanserin say the pharmaceutical industry is basically using women's groups as cover to buy approval of a potentially lucrative drug. The FDA panel's consumer representative, Michele Orza, voted against approval, saying women "deserve better." For a taste of "Even the Score" lobbying effort, you can watch its Viagra ad parody below. Peter Weber

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