‘Viagra Scientist’ Dies

Scientist Robert F. Furchgott died at the age of 92 on May 19 in Seattle. His Nobel Prize-winning research led to the development of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

Furchgott and two other American scientists were awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering that nitric oxide transmits signals within the human body. This research led to many breakthroughs, including new treatment for pulmonary hypertension in newborns, and of course, Viagra.

Mr. Furchgott is survived by three daughters, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Viagra At The Chelsea Flower Show

Viagra has been shown to have a variety of uses. One of these uses, shown in countless studies, is to perk up plants and trees. Because of this, it’s not surprising to see the erectile dysfunction drug being recommended as a treatment for wilted plants at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Testing has shown that Viagra can help improve water absorption in plans. In addition to its benefit to the plants, Viagra is also being suggested at the Chelsea Flower Show in an attempt to make gardening more sexy.

While Viagra has been shown to help wilted plants, pulmonary hypertension, breathing at high altitudes, female sexual dysfunction and more, the prescription ED medication has only been approved by the FDA to treat erectile dysfunction in men.

Stimulating America With Free Viagra

In an effort to help the struggling economy, the federal government has poured billions of dollars into banks and other institutions. Auto dealerships have offered to make car payments for those who have become unemployed. In fact, it seems like almost every company has offered its own stimulus package, from giant auto makers to Domino’s Pizza. But no package has been quite as stimulating as the one being offered by Pfizer.

The Viagra manufacturer has announced a program that will help unemployed people continue receiving their medication for free. Free Viagra? Now this sounds like a plan that will truly stimulate the economy . . . well, maybe not the economy, but there will certainly be stimulation taking place.

MAINTAIN (Medicines Assistance for Those who Are in Need) is a plan inspired by Pfizer employees, and is designed to help people who have recently lost their jobs and/or health insurance. This plan will allow these people to continue receiving their Pfizer medications for free for a year, or until they become employed again (whichever comes first). This program will be funded by donations made by Pfizer employees, which will also be matched by the Pfizer Foundation.

The program will become fully operational on July 1, 2009, and will be open for enrollment through December 31, 2009.

Erectile Dysfunction Ads Are Indecent?

Everybody has seen ads on TV for erectile dysfunction medications. Whether you love the couple sitting in their individual outdoor bathtubs in the Cialis commercials, or hate those Viagra commercials with the over-used “Viva Viagra” song, it makes no difference. The advertisements for ED treatments are highly visible on television. But do people really think these very tame ads are obscene? A congressman from Virginia certainly thinks so.

Last week, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) introduced a bill to congress that would cause ED product advertising to fall under the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) enforcement of indecency. This would ban broadcasters from airing erectile dysfunction drug ads between 6 A.M. and 10 P.M.

The FCC defines an indecent broadcast as one that contains language or material that depicts or describes sexual organs in a way that is offensive to the contemporary community.

It’s surprising to think that present-day society could consider erectile dysfunction, a medical condition, offensive. Rep. Moran’s bill would also affect male enhancement product ads, but male enhancement products and erectile dysfunction products are completely different. Enhancement products are purely for vanity/cosmetic purposes, whereas ED products are for treating a medical condition. The two product groups are clearly separate, and that is usually depicted in their different advertising styles (think Cialis’ bathtub couple vs. Enzyte’s Smilin’ Bob).

It is interesting to note that, in addition to sexual organs, the FCC’s definition of an indecent broadcast also includes excretory organs or activities. Is anybody thinking about Depends commercials right now? I sure am. But I don’t see a congressman trying to get incontinence products banned from the air.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Rep. Moran’s bill. He was unsuccessful in the past when he tried to introduce the bill, but if the bill passes, the FCC can dish out fines up to $325,000 to stations that air the “indecent” material.

If the congressman has a wife, she must feel like garbage though, knowing her husband thinks of sex as indecent.