A medical study in the Netherlands was halted after 11 babies died when their mothers were given sildenafil, which is sold under the name brand Viagra. The study began in 2015 and aimed to discover the potential benefits of increased blood flow to the placenta in mothers whose unborn babies were severely underdeveloped.
According to BBC, 93 women were given Viagra, while 90 women were given a placebo. 17 babies of the mothers who were given Viagra developed a lung condition and 11 of them died shortly after birth. Only three babies of women who were given the placebo developed the condition and none of them died.
The group running the study said they are unsure what role Viagra had in the development of the lung condition and will continue to investigate. They pointed out the similar studies done in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand did not record any deaths, and they are looking to see what differences they may have missed.
Due to the tragic results, researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada have canceled a similar study they were planning.
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