A husband and wife from Michigan have recently filed a Viagra lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer for injuries allegedly sustained while the husband took Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction.

Plaintiffs John and Joyce H.’s Viagra lawsuit claims that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, was negligent and wrongful in its conduct regarding design, development, manufacture, promotion, marketing and sale of Viagra to the public.

Due to these alleged shortcomings, the lawsuit maintains that Viagra is responsible for John’s melanoma skin cancer.

Viagra, known generically as sildenafil citrate, is prescribed to men who cannot maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. The NIH estimates that as many as 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from erectile dysfunction.

In 1998 Viagra was approved by the FDA and since then, Pfizer has participated in aggressive marketing campaigns to the tune of tens of millions of dollars per month for direct-to-consumer advertising.

It is estimated that over 35 million men worldwide have been prescribed Viagra and that the drug holds more than 45 percent of the market share in the U.S. for erectile dysfunction medications.

Viagra Side Effects

However, recent studies have shown a strong link between the use of Viagra and melanoma skin cancer.

Melanoma skin cancer begins to spread in the pigment producing cells within the body. Although it is the least common form of skin cancer, it is considered to be the most dangerous form. The National Cancer Institute reports that melanoma is more likely than other skin cancers to spread to other parts of the body.

If melanoma is untreated, it can spread throughout the body. It commonly spreads to the liver, lungs, brain or bones. Once it has metastasized, the prognosis is very poor.

Several studies have connected Viagra to the creation of melanocytes which develop into melanoma. A study published in The Journal of Cell Biochemistry in 2012 found that Viagra may increase melanin synthesis. Subsequently a 2014 JAMA study found a direct relationship between sildenafil use and increased risk of melanoma.

However, lawsuits such as John and Joyce’s allege that Pfizer has never made any effort to inform the public or medical professionals about the possible risks of melanoma for Viagra users.

Viagra Lawsuit Allegations

John began treatment for erectile dysfunction in April of 1999. He took Viagra from April of 1999 to March of 2001 as prescribed by his physician.

Three years after he stopped taking Viagra, in March of 2004, John discovered that a suspicious mole on his abdomen was malignant melanoma. The excision of the malignant melanoma was performed later that month.

Since that time, John has had to remain vigilant in monitoring his skin for more possible skin cancers and faces the increased risk of developing melanoma in the future.

The Viagra lawsuit claims that had John known about the possible skin cancer risks associated with Viagra use and if Pfizer had properly communicated this information, he would have avoided using Viagra or at least monitored the degree to which it was affecting his health.

According to the Viagra lawsuit, John suffered “severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries.” He has endured physical injuries, the melanoma itself, as well as numerous biopsies. John has also endured economic loss “including significant expenses for medical care and treatment.”

John seeks actual and punitive damages from Pfizer.

The Viagra lawsuit holds Pfizer responsible for strict liability, manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of implied warranty, breach of express warranty, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment and loss of consortium.

John’s wife Joyce joins the Viagra lawsuit bringing forth claims of loss of consortium, or loss of spousal relationship.

The Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-02948 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.