Robert J. Boumis  |  March 4, 2015

Category: Legal News

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Viagra skin cancer lawsuitIn June 2014, the peer-reviewed research journal JAMA: Internal Medicine published a study that drew national attention, alleging a potential Viagra melanoma link.

Melanoma is one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer, typically associated with a lifetime of sun exposure. However, researchers found that patients taking Viagra were more likely to develop melanoma. Researchers did not find a similar link between Viagra and other skin cancers, suggesting a specificity that gave the viagra melanoma skin cancer link some credibility. Additionally, researchers did not find a correlation between untreated erectile dysfunction and melanoma, ruling out a possible second factor that could cause the same results.

Researchers in this Viagra melanoma study were careful to hedge their assertions about Viagra melanoma. Scientists are trained to phrase their results carefully. In their conclusion, the authors of the Viagra melanoma study acknowledged the limits of this type of study while calling for more research: “[Viagra] use may be associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma. Although this study is insufficient to alter clinical recommendations, we support a need for continued investigation of this association.”

Viagra Melanoma Research

The authors of the Viagra melanoma study were referring to the limits of an observational study. In science, research can be broadly divided into observational and experimental research. In the case of experimental research, researchers control as much of the situation as they can to rule out cofounders. This kind of research is usually inappropriate for humans, as it is costly and can be unethical if researchers don’t know enough about the outcomes of a drug. This is why drugs are typically tested on animals, then on small groups of humans, then on larger groups of humans if the drug proves safe at every step along the way. Experimental research on humans is typically used in the drug approval process.

But some drug side effects, like Viagra melanoma, might not show up in this kind of study. The largest drug-approval experiments may have a few thousand test subjects. While this sounds like a lot, if a hypothetical drug side effect only occurs in one in a thousand people, it is very hard to prove the side effect was caused by the drug. However, once a drug is on the market, millions may use it, and public health data, like the types of records used in the Viagra melanoma study, may make it easier to prove a link between a drug and side effects like the Viagra melanoma study. This is called an observational study, where researchers collect data and try and identify risk factors without having any control over the test subjects.

It’s slightly harder to demonstrate cause and effect in an observational study, but if enough observational studies with enough data say the same thing, this builds their credibility. This is why researchers in the Viagra melanoma study have called for additional research. In this case, experimental research has outlined a potential mechanism for Viagra to increase the risk of melanoma, giving the alleged Viagra melanoma link more credibility.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The personal injury attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Viagra lawsuit, Cialis lawsuit, Levitra lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, drug injury lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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If you or a loved one were diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer after taking Viagra, Levitra or Cialis, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify by filling out the short form below.

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