'Female Viagra' studies flop

Despite missing that goal, the United States Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that women did report slightly more satisfaction in their sexual experiences.

Boehringer Ingelheim asked the FDA to approve flibanserin for women who report a lack of sexual desire, a market that drug-makers have been targeting for more than a decade since the success of Viagra in men.

The search for "female Viagra" has proved elusive, with many drugs abandoned after poor results. Tomorrow, the FDA will ask a panel of experts to weigh up the safety and effectiveness of Boehringer's drug.