Dr Kerryn Phelps, Health Editor, with Tracey Grimshaw, Channel Nine, 'Today'

PHELPS: Morning, Tracey.

GRIMSHAW: Now, there is a new drug out apparently that is going to rival Viagra, it's called Uprima. How does it work? How is it different from Viagra?

PHELPS: This drug is not out yet, but it is expected early next year, and it is called Uprima. Its other name is Apomorphine, and it is a derivative of morphine, but it isn't morphine. And what it does is it acts centrally on the brain. Where Viagra works directly on the blood vessels in the penis, the Apomorphine or Uprima works on the brain. It's used as a tablet that's put under the tongue. It works within ten minutes and the effect lasts three to four hours.

GRIMSHAW: When you say it works on the brain, are you saying it's sort of an aphrodisiac?

PHELPS: No. It works on the centre of the brain that controls the sexual function. So, no, it's not an aphrodisiac, but it actually works centrally and on the part of the brain that controls sexual function rather than the blood vessels directly in the penis, which is where Viagra acts.

GRIMSHAW: Okay. We know it's not out yet, but clearly it's been tested, how does it compare with Viagra in terms of its effectiveness, and side effects, too?

PHELPS: It seems to work on about 70 per cent of cases of impotence. And that is comparable with the number of people that can be helped with Viagra as well. Viagra and Uprima have not been compared one to one at this stage, but no doubt once Uprima is released there will be those studies that are done that can compare and contrast the performance of Viagra against Uprima. But it's another option, and it's particularly an option for people who can't take Viagra, for example if they have heart disease.

GRIMSHAW: Sure.

PHELPS: If they were on nitrates for Angina, you can't take Viagra, so this would be a medication that people could try, and at least have another option.

GRIMSHAW: What causes impotence?

PHELPS: There are lots of different causes of impotence, and I think psychological causes shouldn't be overlooked because they can be a very significant part of any cause of impotence, even where there are other physical causes involved. Certainly, smoking contributes significantly. One of the biggest medical causes would have to be diabetes. Side effects of medication, certain blood pressure medications, particularly, can cause impotence, and after different types of cancer surgery, particularly prostate cancer surgery, but also bowel cancer surgery, people can be left with potency problems.

GRIMSHAW: What are the other options apart from say Uprima or Viagra? Injections, for example, directly into the penis, which sounds painful, and they have to be self administered, don't they?

PHELPS: They can be painful, and it is injected directly into the penis. There are some advantages of this which, I mean it's not a particularly expensive procedure, it's something that's reasonably simple, once you can get over that mental hurdle of having to give yourself an injection. But it does have the negative effects of the possibility of causing scarring, or bending of the penis, sometimes the erection won't go away when you want it to, and some people just can't get around the notion of putting an injection there.

GRIMSHAW: And implants?

PHELPS: Now, implants are the, if you like, end of the road treatment. Once everything else has failed, some people will consider an implant. And most private health insurance will cover implants, the Department of Veterans Affairs will cover the costs of implants. But the idea of this is that there is a system of hydraulics that is implanted, surgically, into the penis, with a pump in the scrotum, and the man is able to pump it up, and let it down depending on when he wants to be able to use that function.

GRIMSHAW: Alright. Well, I supposed there are a few options there anyway. Thanks, Kerryn.

PHELPS: Thanks, Tracey.