A Texas man has filed a melanoma skin cancer lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., alleging the pharmaceutical company’s erectile dysfunction drug caused him to develop melanoma skin cancer.

Plaintiff Michael G. filed this Viagra melanoma lawsuit at the end of April, claiming he was prescribed Viagra to treat his erectile dysfunction around April 2011 by his doctor.

Michael continued to take Viagra until 2013, at which time he was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. In May of that year, Michael was forced to undergo an invasive surgery to remove the melanoma from his skin, resulting in permanent scars.

According to the Viagra skin cancer lawsuit: “Plaintiff’s use of Viagra put him at an increased risk of developing melanoma and for such melanoma to become more invasive that if he had not ingested Viagra . . .  Had Defendant properly disclosed the melanoma-related risks associated with Viagra, Plaintiff would have avoided the risk of developing melanoma by not using Viagra at all; severely limiting the dosage and length of its use; and/or more closely monitoring the degree to which the Viagra was adversely affecting his health.”

Michael brings several allegations against Pfizer in this Viagra melanoma lawsuit, including claims of negligence, gross negligence, breach of implied warranty, breach of express warranty, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, strict liability, and violations of unfair and deceptive trade practices laws and consumer protection laws.

This Viagra melanoma lawsuit seeks certain forms of relief for Michael from Pfizer, including compensatory damages, special damages, exemplary damages, double or triple damages, attorney’s fees, and other forms of relief deemed fit by the court.

The Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-03350-GHW, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Viagra Skin Cancer Risks

According to FDA statutes for drug approval, every pharmaceutical drug on the American drug market must be able to demonstrate that the potential benefits of a medication or medical product outweigh the possible risks to consumers.

Based on these standards, if more studies show that the risk of Viagra melanoma skin cancer outweigh Viagra’s erectile enhancing benefits, then the agency may be forced to mandate a Viagra recall. One study performed by the Harvard School of Public Health in 2014 demonstrates a strong link between Viagra use and the development of melanoma skin cancer.

The American Cancer society estimates that 69,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer each and every year across the nation. Additionally, this cancer also causes about 8,650 deaths per year. If caught early, melanoma is treatable. Unfortunately, once the melanoma skin cancer spreads from the skin to the lymph nodes, the treatment options become limited.

It is likely that more and more men like Michael will file Viagra melanoma lawsuits against Pfizer, alleging that had the pharmaceutical company included melanoma skin cancer warnings with their erectile enhancing product, a Viagra melanoma skin cancer diagnosis could have been avoided, as doctors could have chosen to prescribe another type of erectile dysfunction drug , or the consumer could have chosen to ask for another type of medication.