A new government ruling, allowing the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Sildenafil to be sold without a prescription, could mean drug prices fall further.
Viagra
In reaction to the decision by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Dr Tony Steele, medical director of online doctor and supplier of Sildenafil — doctorfox.co.uk — has released a statement:
“We would still advise all men with erectile dysfunction to talk to their GP but they will now benefit from better access to treatment and pharmacists are well-placed to provide advice and support.
“If other drug manufacturers follow Pfizer’s lead the cost of treatment could come down. Only 50 mg tablets are covered by the change in the licence. The majority of men need higher strength 100 mg tablets.”
The approval of Sildenafil as an over-the-counter product has been granted to Pfizer, which is calling the product ‘Viagra Connect’. This will contain 50 mg of sildenafil and will be available in packs of up to 8 tablets.
The MHRA’s decision follows the expiry of Pfizer’s exclusive patent for Viagra four years ago, after which other pharmaceutical companies were able to supply generic versions of sildenafil leading to a reduction in prices of the drug.
Recently, another patent expired for Cialis, which is also used in erectile dysfunction, with prices of the generic version (Tadalafil) coming in at a significantly lower value.