Use of selective antagonists of the alpha1b-adrenergic receptor for improvement of sexual dysfunction

A pharmaceutical composition comprising

• (a) a compound having the general formula I
• 18
• wherein A represents a 2-furyl, substituted 2-furyl, 2-tetrahydrofuryl, substituted alkoxy or substituted phenoxyalkyl group, and B represents one of the following groups of the formula B1, B2 or B3:
• 19
• with the proviso that if B is B1 then A represents a substituted phenoxyalkyl group, or an enantiomer, diastereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such a compound,
• (b) a prostaglandin, a direct vasodilator or a 5 cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor,
• (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.

A method for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in a patient suffering from this disorder, the method comprising administering an effective amount of

• (a) a compound having the general formula I
• 20
• wherein A represents a 2-furyl group, substituted 2-furyl, 2-tetrahydrofuryl, substituted alkoxy or substituted phenoxyalkyl group, and B represents one of the following groups having the formula B1, B2 or B3:
• 21
• with the proviso that if B is B1 then A represents a substituted phenoxyalkyl group, or
• (b) an enantiomer, diastereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such a compound.

A method for identifying a compound useful for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in patients suffering from this disorder, the method comprising the steps of

• (a) individually measuring the binding affinity of test compounds for a mammalian α1b adrenergic receptor and a mammalian α1a or α1b and adrenergic receptor by radioreceptor binding techniques,
• (b) measuring the affinity for a mammalian α1L adrenergic receptor by antagonizing the contractile effect on α1 adrenergic receptors on selected mammalian tissue, and
• (c) identifying those compounds which
• (1) bind to a α1b adrenergic receptor with an affinity of at least 10−8M, and
• (2) bind to a α1b adrenergic receptor with an affinity at least 10-fold higher than the affinity with which the compound binds to mammalian α1a or αd or α1L adrenergic receptors.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound having the formula I

• 24
• wherein A represents a 2-furyl, substituted 2-furyl, 2-tetrahydrofuryl, substituted alkoxy or substituted phenoxyalkyl group, and B represents one of the following groups of the formula B1, B2 or B3:
• 25
• or of an enantiomer, diastereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such a compound, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of both male and female sexual dysfunction provided that when B is B1 then A must be substituted phenoxyalkyl and additionally containing a prostaglandin, a vasodilator, or a 5 cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor.