Men Up

The 2009 British documentary film "Men Up" tells the true story of a group of men living in Morriston Hospital in Swansea, Wales, who volunteered to participate in the first medical trials for a revolutionary new drug that would eventually become one of the most iconic and widely used medications in the world: sildenafil, popularly known as Viagra. In the mid-1990s, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals was racing against time and several other pharmaceutical companies to develop a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Up until then, medical options for ED were limited to invasive surgical procedures, expensive and often ineffective treatments like vacuum pumps, or simply suffering in silence. Pfizer's researchers discovered that sildenafil, a molecule that had been shown to possess vasodilatory properties, held promise as a potentially groundbreaking solution. The film introduces us to some of the men who became part of Pfizer's landmark trial, a group of ordinary men from Morriston Hospital who had been diagnosed with chronic heart failure. They were suffering not just from the debilitating symptoms of their condition but also from the psychological toll of impotence, a common side effect of ED. The men, all aged between 40 and 80, had initially been recruited as part of a broader clinical trial into the effects of sildenafil on heart failure. However, as the results began to show, they became integral to the early trials for a treatment specifically aimed at addressing their ED. The men involved in the trial were initially unaware of the true purpose of the medication they were receiving. The study required them to take the new treatment under a placebo, and only after completion of the trial were they told about its intended use and purpose. This concealment was done under the guise of keeping the trial "blind" to eliminate any bias, although one can wonder how these men felt after being given such sensitive information. However, they were eventually aware of the impact sildenafil had on their lives. The participants in the trial were asked to take one of three dosages of sildenafil: 25, 50, or 100 mg. The dosages had varying effects on the participants. As reported, the initial dose of 25 mg led to some minor improvements but was generally ineffective for those participating in the trial. It was the higher doses that ultimately provided the desired effects, which would go on to become the standard doses for the medication upon release. As the trial progressed, participants reported positive results: they were able to achieve erections when previously they had been unable to. The implications of this were profound: no longer would men suffer in silence or live with the shame of their condition. No longer would they be relegated to the sidelines in their relationships. The impact on their mental well-being, in conjunction with the alleviation of their physical condition, was nothing short of remarkable. The trial participants reported improvements in their relationships, increased confidence, and renewed vitality. While some expressed initial concerns about the treatment's safety, the overall consensus was positive, with many men describing it as a "new lease on life." As the documentary reveals, Pfizer had initially anticipated a modest response to their marketing campaign, expecting a maximum annual revenue of around $10 million. In reality, Viagra went on to become a global phenomenon, its success catapulting Pfizer into a new stratum of pharmaceutical giants. By the mid-2000s, the company's share value had skyrocketed to over $10 billion, fueled largely by the enormous commercial success of sildenafil. As of the writing, Pfizer is among the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. "Men Up" is a poignant documentary that not only delves into the medical history behind the pioneering trial of sildenafil but also sheds light on the personal stories of the men who helped make history possible. Their experiences and reflections offer a glimpse into the transformative power of medical breakthroughs and the often-overlooked contributions of everyday individuals.