Could an Erectile Dysfunction Drug Help Fight Muscle Loss? New Research Offers an Early Clue

Losing muscle strength can have consequences far beyond physical appearance. For older adults and people recovering from prolonged illness, declining muscle mass can make walking, climbing stairs and maintaining independence increasingly difficult.

Now, researchers in Italy have identified an unexpected effect of tadalafil, a medication commonly prescribed for erectile dysfunction, that could eventually inform new approaches to muscle-wasting conditions.

The drug, best known under the brand name Cialis, increased the growth and survival of immature muscle cells in laboratory experiments. But the researchers also discovered that it delayed their development into mature muscle fibres, raising important questions about whether the effect would ultimately improve muscle repair.

The findings were published on October 10, 2026, in Molecular Biology Reports by Cristina Antinozzi and Luigi Di Luigi of the University of Rome Foro Italico.

Why muscle repair matters as we age

Healthy skeletal muscles are essential for movement, balance and everyday physical activity.

As people age, some experience progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, a condition known as sarcopenia. Extended periods of inactivity, including bed rest during serious illness, can also accelerate muscle loss.

Recovery depends partly on the body's ability to maintain and activate cells that participate in repairing damaged muscle fibres.

These cells contribute to a process in which muscle precursors multiply before developing and fusing into functional muscle tissue.

Scientists are interested in finding ways to support that process, particularly for people whose muscles struggle to recover after injury, disease or prolonged inactivity.

The Italian study examined whether tadalafil might influence one of the early cellular stages involved in muscle regeneration.

What the laboratory experiments revealed

The research team used C2C12 myoblasts, a mouse-derived cell line routinely studied in skeletal muscle research.

The cells were exposed to a concentration of one micromolar of tadalafil for up to seven days.

Researchers then measured cell proliferation, survival and progression toward mature muscle structures.

Compared with untreated controls, tadalafil-treated cells demonstrated greater proliferation and lower rates of cell death.

In a separate experiment, the scientists created a scratch in a layer of cultured cells to observe how quickly the cleared area would be repopulated.

Cells exposed to tadalafil covered the area more rapidly.

However, this laboratory test does not establish that the medication can heal injured muscles in living organisms.

The finding that complicates the picture

Although tadalafil encouraged immature muscle cells to multiply, the treated cells were slower to reach full maturity.

This distinction is important because successful muscle regeneration requires more than producing additional cells. Those cells must also develop and contribute to functional muscle fibres.

The researchers observed changes in molecular markers associated with early muscle development and a reduction in the formation of mature, multinucleated muscle structures.

They suggested that tadalafil might help maintain a larger reserve of proliferating cells, potentially preserving material needed for future regeneration.

Whether that reserve eventually produces healthier muscle tissue remains uncertain.

The experiments did not measure improvements in muscle strength, mobility or recovery from physical injury.

Why tadalafil attracted scientific interest

Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, a class of medication that affects signalling pathways involved in blood-vessel relaxation.

It is approved for erectile dysfunction and is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition involving high pressure in the arteries supplying the lungs.

The medication influences the nitric oxide–cyclic GMP pathway.

While this mechanism is well known for its effects on blood circulation, related signalling processes also play a role in muscle-cell development.

The researchers investigated whether modifying those signals could influence the balance between muscle precursor cell growth and maturation.

Their findings suggest that tadalafil may have biological effects extending beyond its established medical indications.

Could this lead to treatment for muscle-wasting diseases?

The possibility is scientifically interesting, particularly for conditions involving loss of muscle mass through ageing, chronic illness or prolonged inactivity.

A treatment capable of supporting the body's natural repair processes could potentially improve recovery and preserve physical function.

However, the current evidence remains preliminary.

The study involved cultured mouse cells rather than human participants or living animal models. It did not demonstrate that tadalafil restores lost muscle, improves physical performance or accelerates recovery after injury.

Further research will need to determine whether its effects on immature cells translate into meaningful improvements in functional muscle tissue.

The authors also raised concerns about potential misuse in competitive sports and recommended further consideration by anti-doping authorities.

An important medical limitation

Tadalafil is not approved for muscle regeneration or treatment of muscle-wasting disorders.

The medication can lower blood pressure and may cause dangerous interactions with nitrate drugs used for certain cardiovascular conditions.

The findings should therefore not be interpreted as support for taking tadalafil to build muscle, improve athletic performance or recover from injury.

Whether the laboratory discovery can be translated into a useful medical treatment will depend on future research involving living organisms and, eventually, carefully controlled clinical trials.