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Episode details

World Service,3 mins

SeriesThe Genius of Accidents

How Viagra was discovered by accident

Discovery

Available for over a year

Some ‘very hard erections’ noticed by male patients undergoing clinical trials for a potential heart drug led to the accidental discovery of a drug to cure erectile dysfunction. The story is told by Chemist Sir Simon Campbell and biologist Dr Peter Ellis who both worked on the Pfizer team that co-discovered Viagra. (Image: Man in hospital bed, Credit: Getty Images.)

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