The government’s personnel office has been hacked by China for the second time in a year
…An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted today to back the approval of a drug meant to boost the libido of women who struggle with decreased sex drive. In an 18-6 vote, the committee decided to recommend that the FDA approve the drug, Flibanserin, given certain labeling and risk management conditions, The Washington Post reports.
…It’s suggested for women who suffer from Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, a condition described at the advisory meeting as feeling like “a switch had gone off.”
…Sprout Pharmaceuticals said that in a 24-week clinical trial, 46 to 60 percent of women benefitted from the treatment, but detractors argue that if the placebo effect is taken into consideration only 10 percent of women actually benefitted.
…Despite the fact that Flibanserin has not been proven to be wholly beneficial, some doctors who testified at the FDA committee hearing today argued it was better than nothing. … The FDA approved the commercial use of Viagra in 1998, but it has yet to approve a similar libido booster for women. Viagra did try to expand its use to women in 1999, but it didn’t work the same way it did for men.
…Though men and women can both see a decrease in sex drive due to a number of factors, low sex drive in women tends to be more closely related to stress and relationship issues, AP reports. … Unlike Viagra, Flibanserin would need to be taken daily, regardless of whether or not the woman taking it wanted to have sex that day.