A world-first oral spray that combats erectile dysfunction within roughly 10 minutes has launched in the UK, and costs £60.
Called Hezkue, the liquid contains sildenafil, which is the same active ingredient in the iconic little blue pill, Viagra.
However, because it is a liquid spray, clinical studies found it can work within as little as 12 minutes.
Absorption can begin within five minutes of taking the spray, and on average it can trigger male arousal sufficient for sex within 25 minutes.
It’s a fraction of the time compared to the tablet forms of sildenafil which can take up to an hour to kick in.
The pharmaceutical firm behind the product, Aspargo Labs Inc, say the product, which is sprayed into the mouth, also allows for dosage flexibility.
The prescription-only medicine comes in two strengths; a recommended starting dose of 50mg, and a stronger solution of 100mg.
Each 30ml bottle contains enough medicine for 40 sprays at 12.5mg per spray.
This means that if the prescribed dose is 25mg—which works out as two sprays— each bottle would contain up to 20 doses and the bottle would last for five sex sessions.
If the recommended dose is 50mg—which works out as four sprays— each bottle would contain up to 10 doses.
And if the prescribed dose was 100mg, a bottle would contain up to 5 doses.
The new Hezkue spray launched in the UK (left) and the blue Viagra pill by Pfizer (right)
The product also been given the green light in Spain, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, and the company has applied for approval in the US.
Taking Hezkue at the 25mg dose means the spray has a price-per-use cost of £12.
However, if the medicine has proved to be ineffective at the standard dose, clinicians may advise to try six pumps up to a maximum dose of eight.
The manufacturers of Hezkue say that it is ‘discrete and portable’ as unlike tablets there is no need for a glass of water to take the product, and it is ‘easy-to-carry’.
It is exclusively available via a medical consultant prescribing it from the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor and Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor services.
They are also looking to expand to Switzerland, other parts as the EU, as well as Latin America and the MENA regions, which includes the Middle East and North Africa.
It is thought more than four million men in the UK suffer from ED, also known as impotence—which is when a man has difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
Sildenafil was first developed in the 1990s as a heart disease medication, but trial participants noticed it had an unusual side effect—frequent erections.
It comes after most recent figures showed there were 4.57million NHS prescriptions in England for sildenafil, and other types of drugs in 2023
In second place, was those aged between 16 and 24, with one in three experiencing over half of all sexual encounters.
Despite popular belief, it isn’t older men who experience erectile dysfunction the most, according to a recent study of 1,000 men by Click2Pharmacy.
Less than half of men aged 55 or above struggled with impotence and less than one in five (18.2 per cent) experienced it more than half of the time, they found.
Surprisingly, it was most common in young men, between the ages of 25 and 34, with three quarters having experienced it.
Of the same age, 40 per cent experienced impotence during more than half of sexual encounters.
In 2023 there were 4.57million NHS prescriptions in England for sildenafil, and other types of drugs.
This was a new record level high, which experts said was likely due to due to tumbling drug prices and patients being less embarrassed to ask for help.
NHS chiefs spent a total of £16.4million providing drugs to treat erectile dysfunction in 2023, about £3.60 per script, though pack sizes can vary.
Even though there has been a record high number of prescriptions, the cost to the taxpayer was actually lower than that recorded in 2014.
The condition isn’t just all in men’s heads—according to the British Association of Urological Surgeons, 90 per cent of cases stem from underlying physical issues.
These experts found the most common underlying causes were heart disease (40 per cent), diabetes (33 per cent) and hormone problems (11 per cent).
Other treatments to improve they highlighted were weight loss, increased exercise, and lifestyle change like drinking less alcohol.
While most cases of erectile dysfunction are isolated and nothing to worry about, repeated or sustained impotency should be checked out by a GP.
On the latest product, Michael S. Demurjian, Chairman and CEO of Aspargo Laboratories, Inc., said: ‘It offers patients a new solution not seen in other available treatments, including traditional options such as pills, gels, injections, and strips.’
Group Chief Medical Officer Kieran Seyan for Pharmacy2U and Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor added: ‘We see first-hand how many people are seeking discreet, accessible ways to address their health concerns. Hezkue is an innovative alternative to traditional tablets.’
In response to the new product release, Professor David Ralph, Urologist at University College London said: ‘ED is a common and often distressing condition that can significantly impact a man’s quality of life and emotional wellbeing.
‘While effective treatments exist, barriers such as timing, convenience, and patient adherence can limit outcomes.
‘Continued innovation in how these therapies are delivered is essential to improving patient experience and helping men manage ED in a way that better fits their lifestyle and individual needs.’
