Pfizer’s Viagra Price Doubled Since 1998
From Viagra’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 and until present time, Viagra price has almost doubled.
The following table shows how Viagra price has gradually risen during the past decade (numbers are approximate – data obtained from BNET):
| Year | Price in USD (Per Pill) |
| 2009 | $13.88 |
| 2008 | $12.50 |
| 2007 | $10.50 |
| 2006 | $9.55 |
| 2005 | $8.93 |
| 2004 | $8.51 |
| 2003 | $8.10 |
| 2002 | $7.67 |
| 2001 | $7.45 |
| 2000 | $7.22 |
| 1999 | $7.00 |
These remarkable and continuing raises in Viagra’s price by its maker, Pfizer, can be attributed to some different reasons explained below.
The first and foremost cause of Viagra’s increased price is the loads of money that Pfizer has to spend on the promotion of this medication. Pfizer has spent millions of dollars all over the globe in order to keep their precious brand “Viagra” above all other competitor brands, especially Eli Lilly’s Cialis and Bayer’s Levitra.
Another factor that makes Pfizer increase the price of their drug is the “legal price” of maintaining this huge and controversial brand. Pfizer has faced countless lawsuits, and a considerable number of those lawsuits were regarding Viagra. Pfizer had to pay billions of dollars in legal fees and settlements over the years. By the way, just recently Pfizer has been sued and agreed to pay a record $1.2B criminal fine for fraudulent, off-label marketing of some of their drugs, including Viagra.
So, in order to afford maintaining the popularity of Viagra, Pfizer has to keep raising its price to cover their increasing costs, and still turn out with “decent” profits.
Viagra Cream Will Soon Compete With ED Pills
The revolutionary ED drugs; Viagra, Cialis and Levitra could soon be available in a safer and quick-acting form as rub-on cream.
Recent researches and lab tests showed that some drugs (including PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) can be administered topically through the skin and supplied directly to the affected area.
In the case of ED medications, the cream would be applied directly to the genitals, which should lessen the side effects and risks of the drug and improve its effectiveness since its effect would be mainly restricted to the targeted part of the body, instead of being circulated throughout the whole body.
Currently, clinical tests are only being conducted on animals (specifically the poor rats!), but human tests and studies could start soon if animal tests continued to prove the safety and success of this method.
But don’t expect to see such products in the market soon, because experts say that at least 10 years could be required to get this medication approved and available for public consumption.
The Science Daily has a news article with more details about this new nanoparticle-based Viagra lotion.
Vizarsin is the Upcoming Viagra Competitor
The famous Slovenian drug maker, Krka is set to launch a new major rival to Pfizer’s Viagra called “Vizarsin”.
Vizarsin is a generic form of Viagra that contains the same active ingredient, namely sildenafil citrate, and has the same effective results in treating erectile dysfunction.
This new generic Viagra will be available in three doses: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. The pills will be white rather than blue (Viagra’s original color). And most importantly, this generic equivalent will be about 30% cheaper than the brand name Viagra.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has approved and recommended this new medication.
Krka is now selling Vizarsin in Slovenia, but as soon as Pfizer’s patents on Viagra expire (mostly in 2012), Krka shall be granted authorization to start marketing Vizarsin in the European Union and other parts of the world.
There have been many attempts by numerous competitors to make and market generic versions of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) since the drug’s approval in 1998, but none of them succeeded as Pfizer always had the power of law (patent protection) to shut them down. The only FDA approved and real rivals of Viagra so far are: Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).
Viagra vs. Natural Aphrodisiacs: Advantages and Disadvantages
You probably have heard about certain foods and drinks having Viagra like effects on men. The fact is, there is a bunch of foods that do really help boost male sexual health and ability and work as natural aphrodisiacs.
Not a long time ago, huge discussions hit the news about Watermelon’s Viagra-like effect, which is backed by professional researches, studies and clinical tests.
Fruits and vegetables in general are good for sexual health since they are rich in vitamins and other nutrients that help your body stay fresh and healthy, which results in better sexual health and performance. Also red meat, white meat, fish and oysters are rich in nutrients (e.g. zinc and different amino acids) that prevent erectile dysfunction (impotence).
So, a healthy, balanced and properly planned diet can definitely help patients with sexual dysfunction problems, like ED, but is this method better than Viagra?
Each has its advantages and shortcomings as explained below. Read more
Cialis Getting Closer to Viagra in Sales
Since Eli Lilly’s recent introduction of the brand new once-a-day Cialis and their sales of this medication have been going up and up. Just in the Q2 of 2009, Cialis sales went up by 16% in the US, while Viagra’s increase was only 4% (Lilly Q2 report).
Many experts expect Cialis to overthrow Pfizer’s little blue pill (Viagra) in the upcoming years, which just makes sense.
Lilly has been more creative with their brand and advertisements for Cialis than Pfizer has been with their Viagra plans.
If Pfizer does not start getting more creative and creating more compelling commercials for their erectile dysfunction drug, Cialis will very soon take over Viagra’s spot as the #1 ED medication.
Is Generic Viagra Illegal?
Most medications have a brand name version and a generic version. A generic drug contains the same active ingredient/s found in its brand name counterpart.
The active ingredient of Viagra is sildenafil citrate. Pfizer Inc is the only pharmaceutical company that holds worldwide patents on sildenafil citrate, and so no other manufacturer can make sildenafil citrate and sell it under any brand name as generic Viagra until Pfizer’s patents expire (most of them expire in 2011–2014).
As an example, Pfizer has recently won a Viagra patent dispute in Canada, where the Federal Court of Canada prohibited Novopharm (a Canadian generic pharmaceutical company) from making generic Viagra until Pfizer’s patent expires. (Source)
But many bad companies and dealers have been making lots of generic Viagra, most of which comes from India, China, and other third world countries were law enforcement is limp.
In addition to being illegal, a lot of the generic Viagra sold online for low prices was found to contain unknown, unapproved, and/or dangerous ingredients, which may lead to serious side effects or even death in some cases.
But does it work?
Yes, there are still a few “good” manufacturers who make “decent” generic Viagra (sildenafil citrate tablets), which works the same way as brand Viagra.