Cialis History and Future (Quick Overview)
Cialis (tadalafil) was introduced in 2003 as a prescription-only treatment for erectile dysfunction and quickly became the second most popular ED drug after Viagra.
Cialis gained a lot of popularity due to its 36-hour-lasting effect, which gave it a considerable edge over the 4-hour-lasting little blue pill (Viagra). This is also why Cialis is often referred to as the Weekend Pill.
In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Once-a-day Cialis (2.5mg and 5mg tablets). This innovative treatment gives patients an almost permanent remedy for ED as long as they keep taking the daily dose as directed by their doctor. When no dose is missed, the drug stays active in the user’s system almost 24/7, which allows him to enjoy sexual activity with full “functionality” anytime of the day without worrying about dose timing.
Cialis has become the closest rival to Viagra, and it even outsells Viagra in many European countries where Lilly ICOS LLC (the manufacturer and marketer of Cialis) widely markets this medication. In terms of performance, many experts would agree that Cialis outranks Viagra. However, the early introduction of Viagra (in 1998) and the huge controversy it has created worldwide made it very difficult for other competitor drugs to defeat Viagra at sale numbers, even if they work better or quicker.
Many health professionals vouch for Cialis and expect it to overthrow the long-established brand in the ED treatment industry, Viagra, in the near future. An interesting turning point for the impotence treatment market shall be in 2012-2013, when Pfizer’s worldwide patents on Viagra expire, at which point Pfizer should stop marketing Viagra as extensively as they have been doing for more than a decade. By that time, Lilly will still have more than 4 years until their patent on Cialis expires, and this could be a golden opportunity for Cialis to easily claim the #1 spot for the best anti impotence drug.
Is Generic Viagra Safe and Effective?
The short answer is: it may be effective, but most experts would agree that it is not safe since none of it is medically approved (yet).
The FDA, Pfizer, and many doctors and professionals frequently warn patients and consumers against fake medications sold online, including the many generic versions of Viagra offered in a large number of “online pharmacy” sites.
So, why all the warnings about generic Viagra traded over the Internet? The following are the main reasons why generic Viagra is generally considered bad.
Legitimacy: Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc, and so no other company is authorized to make a product (drug) and name it Viagra unless they have Pfizer’s permission to do so. Also, sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient of Viagra) is patented worldwide by Pfizer, and so no other drug maker can manufacture sildenafil citrate (generic Viagra) in any form until Pfizer’s patents on this drug expire (in 2011–2013). Simply put, any form of generic Viagra that is currently being manufactured and sold (mostly on the Internet) is illegal.
Effectiveness: There are some pharmaceutical companies that (illegally) make generic Viagra that is identical to, and acts as effective as, the genuine drug. However, studies have shown that a lot of the generic Viagra pills sold over the Internet contain no effective ingredients, i.e. pure scams.
Safety: Since generic Viagra is manufactured unlawfully, it is usually made in unlicensed factories and under unhealthy conditions where standards and regulations are absent. In fact, many investigations proved that generic Viagra promoted online often contains unknown/dangerous ingredients, non-approved substances, and harmful (or even fatal) overdoses.
What applies to Viagra also applies to Cialis (generic: tadalafil) and Levitra (generic: vardenafil).
Cialis maker, Eli Lilly, currently holds the patent for this drug, and until the patent expires (in 2016) all generic versions of Cialis made by other drug companies are not legitimate. Levitra’s manufacturer, Bayer, also has worldwide patents on this ED drug, first of which expire in 2018.
The video displayed below is made by the FDA to educate patients about faux drugs on the Internet and help them avoid such scams.
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.