A review of the efficacy and safety of mirodenafil in the management of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder that can jeopardize quality of life and the partnership of patients and their sexual partners. The advent of oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) has revolutionized a treatment for ED, and they are recognized as the first-line therapy for ED, regardless of its etiology. Mirodenafil, a second-generation PDE5I, has biochemical profiles such as high affinity for PDE5 and high selectivity for PDE5 over other PDE isoforms, compared to other existing PDE5Is such as sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil. Available evidence has suggested that doses of 50 and 100 mg mirodenafil effectively improve ED [with improvements in the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) scores, positive responses to questions 2 of the Sexual Encounter Profiles (SEP2) and questions 3 of the Sexual Encounter Profiles (SEP3): 7.6-11.6 points, 27.72-38.98% and 44.20-67.33%, respectively] in a broad range of patient populations with ED of a variety of underlying etiologies, severities and ages, without any serious treatment-related adverse effects. In the treatment of diabetic ED, a traditionally difficult-to-treat population, 100 mg mirodenafil has been reported to offer favorable efficacy (with improvements in the IIEF-EF scores, and positive responses to the SEP2 and the SEP3: 9.3 points, 36.1% and 61.8%, respectively) and tolerability (mild adverse effects of less than 19.6%), which are comparable with results from clinical studies on other PDE5Is. Mirodenafil appears to be effective, safe and well tolerated in men with both ED and hypertension or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who are taking concomitant antihypertensive medications or alpha 1-blockers. Furthermore, recent evidence has indicated that mirodenafil may be a potential option for chronic dosing in the treatment of ED despite its short half-life (T-1/2). Most of the available clinical studies have reported that adverse effects (up to 53.7%) caused by 50 and 100 mg mirodenafil are mild or moderate in severity, with headache (1.8-14.8%) and flushing (6.7-24.1%) being the most common. Due to the pharmacodynamic profiles of mirodenafil, its tolerability is expected to be somewhat better than those of the other PDE5Is. However, further well designed studies with larger cohorts of different ethnicities, flexible dosing schedules and long-term follow up are necessary to confirm the favorable efficacy and tolerability profiles of mirodenafil for the treatment of ED.