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).
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.