Female sex patch nixed by experts

PROCTER & GAMBLE has reached a roadblock in its bid to be first to market a drug to increase a woman's sex drive.

An FDA advisory panel voted unanimously against the approval of P&G's Intrinsa, saying the patch's risk of heart attack and stroke outweighed the modest benefit of increasing sexual

Ultimately, the FDA will have the final say on Intrinsa's approval; however, the agency usually follows the advice of panels comprised of outside experts.

Analysts speculate the panel's conclusions are at least partially impacted by a new caution surrounding drug approvals following the recall of Merck's Vioxx last year.