New Viagra gives family man the droop

For millions of impotent men around the globe, the announcement of a new Viagra-style wonder drug, called Cialis, is cause for rejoicing. But for Albert Cialis, a retired accountant from Kent, it's nothing short of a disaster.

Mr Cialis is convinced that while the new cure for impotence may be a boon for sexually frustrated men, its imminent arrival will destroy his and his family's credibility.

Now he is threatening legal action against Eli Lilly if it doesn't change the name of its drug.

"We are horrified at this situation. It is like being called the Viagra family," he told The Independent on Sunday.

"There is likely to be ridicule and worse, especially for young members of the family and a burden for our young children, who can expect to be teased at school with consequent psychological damage."

Eli Lilly, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, explained that the name of its drug was a play on words, referring to the phrase "the sky's the limit" via ciel the French for "sky".

Mr Cialis has begun a campaign to get the decision overturned and last week went public with his concerns by contacting the British Medical Journal.

If he succeeds in getting the product renamed it will cost Eli Lilly, which has a reputation for treating schizophrenia, an estimated £1m in the UK alone to rebrand it in time for the launch next year.