Pfizer to Launch an Over-The-Counter Version of Viagra
Viagra developer and manufacturer, Pfizer Inc, is planning on launching a new, non-prescription version of its blockbuster anti-impotence drug, Viagra (sildenafil citrate). The new medicine, which does not have a name yet, is expected to be available in 2011. This new product comes just in the perfect time, since Pfizer’s U.S. patent on Viagra expires in 2012, after which the “much cheaper” generic versions of Viagra are expected to take over.
The new product contains revised ingredients (some of which are also found in Viagra) that make it safe and available for use without a prescription, i.e. anyone will be able to buy it over the counter without seeing a doctor.
Pfizer has always been trying to make their in-demand ED drug as easily obtainable as possible, even if it was at the expense of the patient’s health. In fact, Pfizer has already sought to make Viagra available over the counter in Europe in 2007. However, they withdrew the application after the European Medicines Agency objected to the bid due to the potential health risks of Viagra, and to prevent increased misuse of this medication.
So, will this new ED treatment replace Viagra? Well, it will all come down to results. Even though OTC drugs are generally less effective than prescription-only ones, Pfizer may be cooking some “big” surprises in this new product. We will be following and posting updates on this story.
The Quest for Decent Female Viagra Continues
For most men, making love is a mere mechanical process that only requires a rigid erection. That’s why male sexual dysfunction can be effectively treated with a pill, like Viagra.
But for women, sexual dysfunction is more complicated and requires more than just a drug to deal with. Common sexual dysfunctions in women, e.g. low libido, are usually caused by psychological factors that no medication has yet been clinically proven to address effectively.
While some drugs, like the famous Viagra, are being prescribed off-label to women who suffer from sexual difficulties, there’s no medication that is approved by the FDA as a “female Viagra”.
Many pharmaceutical companies around the world are still in search for a female counterpart of Viagra, but until something is proven to solidly work (if any), women can discuss their sexual problems with their doctor and/or partner to work things out.
In the following video, Dr. Jennifer Ashton speaks to CBS HealthWatch about Flibanserin, an antidepressant drugs that could be the long-waited-for female libido booster.
Zydena (Udenafil) Undergoes U.S. Trials
Udenafil is a new oral treatment for erectile dysfunction developed by the Korean Dong-A PharmTech Co. Ltd. This new medication has entered phase III trials in the United States.
Udenafil is a long-lasting PDE-5 inhibitor, and so it works in the same mechanism as Viagra, i.e. it relaxes blood vessels and allows more blood to flow to the genitals, which improves the man’s ability to achieve and maintain a firm erection during sexual arousal.
This drug is already approved and marketed under the brand name Zydena in some countries, including Korea and Russia. Dong-A is crossing fingers that in a couple of years they will be granted marketing authorization for Udenafil in the US and EU.
If it gets approved by the FDA, Zydena (Udenafil) will become the fourth prescription treatment option for ED patients that will compete with Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil). More competition is always in favor of consumers who get more options, from which they can choose what is best for them in terms of results, safety, and price (after consulting a doctor, of course).
Generic Lipitor Will Soon Become Official
The Pfizer-made, blockbuster cholesterol-lowering pill, Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), will soon be available in generic versions made by different pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
Lipitor is the top selling medication with millions of patients using it worldwide. It is unfortunate for Pfizer (developer and manufacturer of Lipitor) that their U.S. patent on this drug expires in the upcoming 2010.
Other drug makers are thronging to get U.S. marketing approval for their generic copies of Lipitor. Dr. Reddy’s (a giant Indian pharmaceutical company) has filed for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for their generic version of Lipitor.
This is great news for Lipitor consumers, because the more competition there is, the lower the prices get.
A Shipment of Thousands of Fake Viagra Pills Seized in Miami
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Miami International Airport confiscated 21,600 counterfeit Viagra tablets (about 50 pounds of the little blue pills).
The shipment was seized on Oct 9, and was coming from India, where many illegal, fake drug manufacturers operate.
Samples of the pills were sent to a lab for testing, which confirmed that the pills were not genuine Pfizer made Viagra, nor anything close to it, i.e. the pills were meant to rip off ignorant consumers.
This is not the first, and will not be the last time that such shipments of bogus drugs are seized. Customers who purchase Viagra online, or from an unlicensed local retailer without a prescription usually fall a victim to bad people (or criminals) who traffic fake Viagra.
Pfizer Canada Launches a New Viagra “Confession” Commercial
The new Pfizer Canada ad for Viagra, created by Taxi Canada, shows a wife busy with redecoration while the husband confesses: “Redecorating was ruining our lives…”
But what does redecorating have to do with Viagra? Well, market research showed that many couples who lack intimacy fill it up with redecoration instead. “So I tried Viagra, and my redecorating practically disappeared,” the husband concludes.
However, what the ad suggests is not always true. Viagra cannot create intimacy or love for you. The drug can only help with the “mechanical” part of love, but to have closeness back in your relationship you have to do more than just pop a pill. You have to sit down, talk, listen, care, do, change, etc.
Anyway, here’s my personal opinion of this new commercial:
Funny: No.
Creative: Not really.
Makes sense: Only to those who do not know what love is.
I think Pfizer has had/can do better commercials than this one. Anyway, please watch the video below and write your own opinion/comment about it.
Can Tamiflu Beat Viagra at Spam?
Today I stumbled upon a CNN news article (published in July 2009), which reports that the famous anti-flu drug Tamiflu has recently become a huge target of many spammers to the point that it “out-spam” Viagra.
Spammers have been sending tons of junk emails pushing fake Tamiflu since swine flu was declared a global pandemic last June. The report adds that most sites that used to sell fake Viagra started to offer Tamiflu besides/instead of it, hoping to make a fortune out of this highly on-demand flu treatment, especially with the beginning of flu season (autumn) and the fast worldwide spread of swine flu.
Anyway, I say no way any other product could out-spam Viagra. There might be other products that get occasional spammer focus, but Viagra stays the all-time spammer favorite. Tamiflu spam might have gotten a boost due to the swine flu pandemic, but as soon as the H1N1 vaccine doses become available for the public (this October) and everyone is protected against this deadly virus, Tamiflu demand will decrease and get back to normal and most spammers will lose interest in it. But men will never stop asking for bigger erections and thus Viagra spam will never fade away.
So, why is there so much Viagra spam? And why do most spammers target Viagra?
The reason for that is the “online popularity” of Viagra.
Viagra is very popular on the Internet. That’s because it is considered an “embarrassment drug”, i.e. most patients would feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to ask a doctor for a Viagra prescription. And since most men would be reluctant to discuss their sexual problems with someone else, even their doctor, they try to find a more discreet way to obtain this medication and so they go online to purchase it privately.
On the other hand, almost no one would be embarrassment to ask their doctor or pharmacist for Tamiflu.
Just for comparison, according to Google’s keyword research tool, the search term “buy Viagra” has received about 1,000,000 searches during the month of August alone, while the term “buy Tamiflu” has only received about 14,800 searches during the same period of time. This suggests that Tamiflu’s online sales are not even close to Viagra’s. Even the closest Viagra rival, Cialis, only got about 450,000 searches for the term “buy Cialis” during the month of August.
By far, no other drug has been bigger or better-selling than Viagra on the Internet. Also, the controversy about Viagra has long made this product part of people’s culture. And that’s why most spammers choose to promote Viagra.
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.
Eli Lilly to Reduce Jobs by 14%
By the end of 2011, the giant drug maker Eli Lilly is set to cut down its work force by 14%, which means that nearly 5,500 of Lilly’s employees will lose their jobs.
Lilly’s objective from this move is to cut their annual costs by $1 billion, as many of their best sellers will lose patent protection in a couple of years.
The company will also restructure itself into five units: cancer, diabetes, emerging markets, established markets, and Elanco (Lilly’s animal health business).
They also plan to get quick approval for new medications and bring them into the U.S. and global market.
Read more about Eli Lilly plans at NY Times.
Pfizer Sued Over Off-Label Marketing of Viagra
The U.S. Justice Department held Pfizer accountable for fraudulent promotions and off-label marketing of some of its top selling drugs, including Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Lipitor (atorvastatin), and others.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc in the past charging them for deceitful and irresponsible promotions of their erectile dysfunction drug “Viagra”, which, according to AHF, has helped increase the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. AHF welcomed the ruling and praised the U.S. Justice Department for it.
It was also reported that Pfizer agreed to pay a $1.2 billion (largest ever) criminal fine. But will Pfizer learn the lesson this time, or their big profits are totally worth a few-billion fines from time to time?
Read the full news article at Reuters.com.