Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are potent enzymes that function to hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides to their corresponding 5' monophosphates. Their unique biochemical properties have been applied in treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Excipients and Impurities-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Excipients and Impurities-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Pharmaceutical products contain more than just the active drug; they also contain various excipients such as binders, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, and other elements. In some cases, impurities or contaminants might be present. Traditionally, quality control in pharmaceuticals has primarily focused on the analysis of the active drug, often overlooking the impact of these additional components. The recent issue with heparin contamination by over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, a...

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Stop: the medical and human rights scandal in Bahrain.

International journal of clinical practice·2011

Same author

Extensive oral herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in a haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient not responding to aciclovir.

Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2011

Same author

Transferable SAFT-VR models for the calculation of the fluid phase equilibria in reactive mixtures of carbon dioxide, water, and n-alkylamines in the context of carbon capture.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2011

Same author

Structural and functional failure of TVT by trimming of the extruded edge.

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·2011

Same author

Cholesteric order in systems of helical Yukawa rods.

Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal·2011

Same author

Communicating about death and dying.

International journal of clinical practice·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Published on: May 9, 2025

Counterfeit phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors pose significant safety risks.

G Jackson¹, S Arver, I Banks

¹Cardiac Department, St. Thomas Hospital, London, UK. gjcardiol@talk21.com

International Journal of Clinical Practice

|January 22, 2010

Summary

Counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs, particularly phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), pose significant health risks due to inconsistent ingredients and contaminants. Purchasing these medications online bypasses crucial healthcare interactions, delaying diagnosis of serious conditions.

More Related Videos

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Published on: October 26, 2015

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

Published on: January 22, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Published on: May 9, 2025

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Development of Inhibitors of Protein-protein Interactions through REPLACE: Application to the Design and Development Non-ATP Competitive CDK Inhibitors

Published on: October 26, 2015

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

Published on: January 22, 2019

Area of Science:

Pharmaceutical Science
Public Health
Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

Counterfeit medications represent a growing global health threat, with increasing sophistication in their production and distribution.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) are a major component of the illicit pharmaceutical market.
Millions of counterfeit PDE5is are seized annually, indicating a substantial public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the dangers associated with counterfeit PDE5 inhibitors.
To underscore the risks of online pharmaceutical purchases, particularly for ED medications.
To emphasize the need for enhanced regulatory measures and physician-patient education.

Main Methods:

Analysis of counterfeit PDE5i contents for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) dosage, contaminants, and hazardous substances.
Review of statistics on counterfeit medication seizures and online purchasing trends for ED drugs.
Assessment of health risks, including missed opportunities for comorbidity evaluation.

Main Results:

Counterfeit PDE5is exhibit highly variable API doses (0% to >200% of labeled strength) and contain dangerous contaminants like paint and ink.
The internet is a primary source for counterfeit ED medications, with estimates suggesting 44% to 90% of online medications are fake.
A significant proportion of men purchasing ED medication online bypass healthcare providers, missing opportunities to screen for conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Conclusions:

Counterfeit PDE5is present direct and indirect health risks, including potential toxicity and circumvention of essential medical evaluations.
Combating pharmaceutical counterfeiting requires stricter global enforcement and penalties for illicit manufacturers.
Physicians must educate patients about the severe dangers of purchasing ED medications from unregulated online sources.