History
The official Viagra site says this drug has helped 25 million males with erectile dysfunction all over the world to improve their erections.
This medicine viagra over-the-counter was developed by Pfizer. This is one of the world’s most famous pharmaceutical companies that produce ED treatments. Sildenafil was synthesized by English chemists who worked at Pfizer’s Sandwich in Kent. This medicine was studied for treatment of high blood pressure and ischaemic heart disease (angina). But the first clinical studies that took place in Swansea suggested this medicine worked better for ED treatment and had little effect on angina.
Some sources mention that a generic version of Viagra was released in India long before it came to the USA. Supposedly Sildenafil Citrate was launched seven years earlier than Viagra. It means that this drug was sold in India even when it was illegal in many countries including the US.
So, the drug was intended for erectile dysfunction treatment and patented in 1996 (the patent should expire in 2011-2013). The USA Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in 1998 (it’s the first oral drug officially approved for men with ED).
Even though the main competitors of Viagra are Levitra and Cialis, this medicine is asked the most. It made over 1 billion dollars of yearly sales in 1999, 2000 and 2001 (around 92 % of the world’s market of prescribed ED treating medicines). Now it has about half of share in the global market, and this is a great result, but not everyone likes it.
For example, AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles launched ad campaign against Pfizer back in 2006. The foundation thought it was wrong to position the drug for recreational use because Viagra couldn’t protect men from HIV infection. Of course, Pfizer responded that the company never encouraged a recreational use of its medication and even advised people to talk to their physicians before getting it.