Delivery of intracavernosal therapies using needle-free injection devices

Abstract

ED affects a significant proportion of males worldwide. With an ever-aging population the prevalence of ED is predicted to double in the next decade. Oral PDE-5 inhibitors are the first-line treatment for ED and have revolutionised its management. These agents are however ineffective in some men. Intracavernosal injection (ICI) of vasoactive agents is an effective second-line therapy for ED. Despite proven efficacy, needle phobia and anxiety with self-needling limit the use of intracavernosal (IC) therapies. Needle-free injection (NFI) devices allow delivery of parenteral therapies through the skin, without a needle. Although these devices have been available for decades, early studies inves..