Avanafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects millions of men worldwide, and the incidence of ED will continue to increase as the aging population grows. The first generation of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, the mainstay of oral ED therapy, has revolutionized the treatment of this condition, but not without some drawbacks. Avanafil, the only United States and European Union-approved second-generation PDE5 inhibitor, is a safe and efficacious alternative to its predecessors. AREAS COVERED: We reviewed the current and most up-to-date literature regarding Avanafil, as well as the pivotal trials that measured efficacy and tolerability. As Avanafil is still a relatively new drug, there is still a relative paucity of literature which inherently limited the search parameters. We searched the PUBMED database for articles detailing the clinical trials, chemistry, pharmacokinetics and dynamics, safety, and efficacy of the drug. Expert commentary: Avanafil's unique pharmacologic profile both narrows and minimizes side effects while reducing the time of onset of action to half of its closest competitor, providing men who suffer with ED a return to a more spontaneous sex life.