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Eleven Babies Die After Dutch Women Given Viagra in Trial

Nearly 100 women given the drug as part medical trial.

Eleven babies died after pregnant Dutch women were given Viagra in a medical trial that aimed to help their child’s growth. The research, carried out at 10 hospitals across the Netherlands, involved women whose placentas had been underperforming taking sildenafil—a medication better known under its brand name Viagra. The aim, which was supported by experiments on rats, had been that the drug could encourage a better blood-flow through the placenta, helping the health and growth of the child. However, the trial was terminated last week when a committee overseeing the research discovered an unusually high number of the babies were being born with lung problems. Ninety-three women were given the drug as part of the trial, with 17 babies developing lung problems—11 have since died. Between 10-15 women are now waiting to hear if their child was also affected. It is feared the drug caused high blood pressure in the lungs, leading to the babies receiving too little oxygen.