back to article Viagra makes it HARD for malaria, bug-boffins discover

The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation has been buying Viagra, in a good cause: it seems to help beat one of the common malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum. The mechanism is even analogous to Viagra's better-known effect: it makes infected red blood cells stiffer, which marks them down to be cleaned out by the spleen. As …

  1. Mark 85

    The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

    So, are they actually using the pill or just some of the compounds? I read the article but got lost.

    If the pill, will there be a sudden increase in the birth rate?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

      Maybe if you got lost reading the article you should have read it again before posting a comment?

      It clearly states they are buying Viagra, not some subset of compounds to make their own elixir.

      I don't think they would want to go to the time and trouble (cost) of doing their own drug development and testing. That's a very expensive and long term exercise and not what the foundation is about.

      Drug companies are about drug R&D, the Gates foundation is not a drug company.

      Viagra may well enable some people to *ahem^ 'perform' in a manner more pleasing to the person they are coupled to but I don't believe it increases fertility. So no, no increase in birth rate.

      1. Mark 85
        Facepalm

        Re: The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

        Thanks for the kick... I got lost in the paper itself after reading the article and that wiped out my remembering first sentence I gotta' get some more coffee.

        I realize there's no increase in fertility... I was referencing an increase in the amount of pleasurable activity. Much like 9 months after a severe storm and/or power outage, there's usually a pip upwards in the birth rate.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

          Having criticised you I've given now you an upvote!

          I agree some fleeting phase can give rise to a pip upwards, but taking Viagra is not a coordinated event (I hope) so I doubt there would be a blip as with an event affecting many people such as a major power cut.

          The upvote is for accepting the kicking, in hindsight perhaps I should have worn trainers instead of Dr. Martens!

          Have a good day Mark 85.

      2. Robert Helpmann??
        Childcatcher

        Re: The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

        Drug companies are about drug R&D, the Gates foundation is not a drug company.

        No, but they are obviously willing to do the research if it helps meet their stated goals. This sort of study is fairly common as it is much easier to get approval to test an existing drug to do something it was not original intended to do that to develop and whole new drug for a specific purpose. The up-front costs of R&D are already paid and it has been approved for use. In fact, the drug was originally intended for treatment of hypertension. All they have to do is find out how effective it is against the target disease. It also may have the pleasant result for the drug company of expanding their market. This is a smart way of getting the job done.

      3. James 51

        Re: The Law of Unintended Consequences....?

        Drug companies are about drug R&D marketing. FTFY

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Does this mean…

    …we can expect a barrage of Malaria-themed Viagra spam emails from now on with endorsements from Bill Gates?

  3. channel extended

    Four Hours

    If the cure takes more than four hours should I calll my doc?

  4. Unicornpiss
    Meh

    I feel I should make some comment...

    ..about "mosquito dick", but I have no idea how to fit it in :)

    1. Doogs

      Re: I feel I should make some comment...

      Missed it by a gnat's todger...

    2. Montreal Sean

      Re: I feel I should make some comment...

      I would imagine that if it is that small it would be pretty easy to fit in most anywhere.

  5. MrDamage Silver badge
    Joke

    And i thought it was news

    when they learnt it can also be used to stop you from rolling out of bed whilst you slept.

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

  6. skeptical i

    Skeeter peters?

    "Yeah, doc, since starting the Viagra I've not contracted malaria even while my neighbours did but, funny thing, I'm constantly being followed by a swarm of mosquitoes with bad hair-dye jobs, botox, and jokes about robbing the stagnant water ...."

  7. Old Handle

    So the idea is if you get malaria, presumably in addition to drugs intended you cure you, they give you viagra to stop it from spreading?

  8. This post has been deleted by its author

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Well, Gates *is* getting older..

    .. what better excuse to buy them without anyone selling the story to the press?

    </cynic>

    It just seems such an elaborate way to keep up a mosquito net.. :)

  10. Extra spicey vindaloo
    Joke

    I must print out this article

    For when I pass through customs, on my way to the Philippines.

    "They are for malaria prevention officer"

  11. x 7

    well at least I've now got an excuse for when the girlfriend noses through my bags before I go on that next business trip to Thailand.........

    had a real bloody set-to last time. Who'd have thought a woman could get upset over a few tablets in your suitcase?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      She's probably wondering what you're going to give her when you get home...

  12. Mayhem

    A good secondary use

    Along with the existing one of moderating or preventing High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema, where you get fluid buildup in the lungs when mountaineering over 2500m.

    A friend of mine was attempting a first ascent on a peak in the Himalaya a decade or so ago, and shocked hell out of the local pharmacist when he presented a prescription for six hundred tablets - it was the supply for his whole party for two months.

    I'm not sure what her first thought was, but Sex Fiend had to be pretty high up there.

    1. Dazed and Confused

      Re: A good secondary use

      > it was the supply for his whole party for two months.

      Sounds like one hell of a party.

      Where do we get invites?

  13. Kubla Cant

    Priapism

    My initial thought was that the mosquitos' aerodynamics would be compromised by priapism. But it's the female mosquitos that fly around biting people, so I guess it works by giving them something else to do.

  14. Dazed and Confused

    The good news is

    That you're safe from the risk of malaria, the bad news if that you're going to have to do the whole business trip with a erection.

    Do we also get protection from harassment suits?

  15. Nick Pettefar

    Whenever you buy Viagra it's for a good cause. FFS!

  16. Arthur Kater :-D ☺

    Apple users use OsX most of the time

    Should we expect a baby boom in malaria stricken regions?

  17. Unicornpiss
    Joke

    So...

    A guy walks into a pharmacy and complains that he has difficulty maintaining an erection. The pharmacist asks: "Have you tried Viagra?" The man replies, "No, can you get it over the counter?" The pharmacist says, "If I take 3 I can."

  18. hatti

    Not sure

    I'd have to see if there were hard evidence first.

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