Study identifies breakthrough drug combination for early-stage Peyronie’s
A study by Anglia Ruskin University and University College London Hospital found that combining phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (like Viagra or Cialis) with selective estrogen receptor modulators (like tamoxifen) may halt early-stage Peyronie’s disease progression in 43% of patients, compared to 15% under standard care. The trial, led by Professors David Ralph and Selim Cellek, suggests this drug combination could offer the first effective oral treatment for acute Peyronie’s, reducing pain and curvature after three months of treatment.
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and University College London Hospital (UCLH) have identified a potential breakthrough in treating early-stage Peyronie’s disease (PD), a condition characterized by fibrotic scar tissue in the penis causing pain, curvature, and sexual dysfunction. The study, published in *The Journal of Sexual Medicine*, found that combining phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors—such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis)—with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like tamoxifen may slow or even stop disease progression when administered early. The clinical trial, led by Professor David Ralph of UCLH, involved 133 men with acute Peyronie’s disease treated with the drug combination for three months. Results showed 43% of patients experienced improved penile curvature, nearly triple the 15% improvement seen in a smaller group receiving standard care, which included vitamin E or no treatment. Pain during erections dropped from 65% to 1.5% in the combination group, compared to a reduction from 50% to 27% in the standard-care group. The findings build on earlier laboratory work by Professor Selim Cellek’s team at ARU’s Fibrosis Research Group, which screened 1,953 FDA-approved drugs to identify compounds blocking fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation—the key process driving fibrosis. PDE5 inhibitors and SERMs emerged as the most effective, with combined use showing greater impact than either drug alone. Currently, no oral therapies are approved to prevent early Peyronie’s progression, leaving patients to wait until the condition stabilizes before pursuing injections or surgery. The study’s authors suggest the combination therapy could shift treatment from symptom management to disease modification, given that both drug classes are already widely used and have established safety profiles. Professor Cellek noted that early intervention targeting fibrosis could revolutionize Peyronie’s treatment, while Professor Ralph emphasized the clinical validation of lab research, confirming the combination’s ability to reduce disease progression. The findings pave the way for larger prospective trials to confirm these results and potentially introduce a new standard of care for acute Peyronie’s disease.
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