Publishing industry–sponsored studies

Abstract

The debate around the role of pharmaceutical industries (hereinafter “pharma”) in the field of sexual medicine over the course of my (A.S.) nearly 30 years of clinical and translational research on this amazing topic has been harsh and sometimes unproductive. This is a welcome opportunity to exchange some observations and thoughts and open an interesting debate for younger colleagues who, for chronologic reasons, missed a flourishing moment of initiatives and studies in this beloved field. Indeed, on one hand, long-term experience helps; on the other, fresh ideas corroborate the experience and open extraordinary new horizons. Historically, pharma have provided valuable support to medical research in terms of funding and intellectual contributions, resulting in several advancements and developments in patient care. That’s all folks: pharma have supported great scientifically rigorous research in the field. Or perhaps it may be better to say—this could be all, dear folks. In the specific and relatively narrow context of sexual medicine, pharma have played a primary role throughout the last 50 years, with an incredible peak in the late 1990s and early 21st century in (1) the discovery, development, and implementation of drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) that have drastically revolutionized the field; (2) the way that we treat patients; (3) our way of approaching medicine; and (4) the way in which research, at least clinical research, has been conducted from 1998 onward. Here, whatever the mythologic origin of sildenafil was—the iconic progenitor of all phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is)1,2—and whatever the intention with which sildenafil was initially under investigation,3 it is clear that the quality of life of patients struggling with ED would not have been as dramatically improved as it is now without the financial and managing support of pharma. Second, it is also very clear that, as the physicians and research experts in the field of sexual medicine, we would have never had the opportunity to conduct so many well-designed studies or get to know one another and exchange ideas and projects without the existence of sildenafil and, thereafter, all other PDE5Is that were conceived,4 produced, and launched on the market in the following years. This has been the case not only regarding ED but also surrounding other male sexual dysfunctions (eg, premature ejaculation5) and women’s sexual health.6-8 Last but not least, pharma have played a major role in supporting national and international scientific societies in the area of sexual medicine. This aspect is certainly no less relevant. In fact, the financial support of pharma has been paramount to the execution of research studies and the public presentation of results in the contexts of dedicated experts—opportunities that otherwise would have been difficult to come by. A striking example is the “birth” of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (formally ESIR) in 1995, with the first congress being held in Porto Carras, Greece. This has been the case for many other affiliated societies of the International Society for Sexual Medicine. Likewise, funds from pharma have provided seeds and starting grants to many research centers, by means of which they were able to develop independent lines of research and have the subsequent opportunity to apply for more competitive grants. Again, what an incredible cultural exchange it has been to meet and discuss—sometimes even to vigorously clash on—some of the many themes that the field of sexual medicine proposes. All of this has been thanks to the sponsorship of pharma, who have been able to promote their belief and support in the development of a healthy and correct scientific culture while supporting their own business objectives.