Pfizer is facing a new melanoma cancer lawsuit from a man who was prescribed the company’s famous erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

The man claims that as a direct result of taking Viagra, he developed a deadly form of skin cancer and is currently contending with the condition. North Carolina plaintiff Edwin K. had been prescribed Viagra in February 2012 and used it regularly until September 2013.

At all times during his prescription, he followed prescription instructions and listened to the advice of his physician. However, Edwin discovered the adverse Viagra side effect several months after he ended his prescription.

In November 2013, Edwin had his oncologist inspect a suspicious mole on the right side of his back and underwent a shave biopsy. Diagnostic testing revealed that he had melanoma cancer.

After its discovery, Edwin had the mole removed from an excision based procedure and has been reportedly successful. However, he will still have to remain vigilant against any recurring signs of melanoma cancer, and he also had to undergo a recovery process.

After the first excision procedure, Edwin underwent a second procedure on Dec. 18, 2013 to insure that the cancer was completely extracted. Even though no signs of the cancer appeared, Edwin points out that he had to contend with the medical bills for each procedure.

Edwin further contends that these procedures would not have been necessary if not for the Viagra effect, and the fact that he was never warned of this possibility.

Overview of Viagra Melanoma Association

Viagra (Sildenafil) was approved to treat erectile dysfunction by the FDA on March 27, 1998, and it is manufactured by Pfizer. This medication’s treatment mechanism stems from its ability to inhibit the secretion of a certain enzyme, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which is responsible for degrading the smooth blood flow of the penis.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 30 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction in the United States and have sought Viagra as their solution. However, it has recently been discovered that Viagra is linked to the most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma.

Recent studies show that Viagra may induce cell mutation resulting in melanomagenesis, which allows for melanoma cancer to develop. One study comes from the June 2014 issue Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine, which examined the link between inhibiting PDE5 and melanoma cancer.

The study consisted of 25,848 patients, in which recent Viagra patients were noted to have an 84 percent increased risk of invasive melanoma cancer. Despite the scientific evidence indicating a strong link, Pfizer had allegedly chosen to omit this information from the drug’s label.

Edwin and many others allege that they were denied the chance of making an informed decision regarding their healthcare, and the company is liable for their injuries. Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer, to determine whether or not they have a claim.

This Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit is Edwin K. v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-00842-WO-LPA, in the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of North Carolina.