MedExpress

Viagra is the brand name for medicine known as Sildenafil which has been proven to be effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is the active ingredient and has also been available since 2013 as a generic drug. A generic drug contains the same active ingredient as a branded drug and is medically equivalent but can be produced by any generic manufacturer.

History – Pfizer Loses Patent in 2013 on Viagra Allowing Generic Viagra (Sildenafil)

Viagra was one of the first treatments to be approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and has been used by men across the world for over a decade with excellent results. Pfizer was the original manufacturer for Viagra and developed a patent on the product in 1996. Originally Viagra was used for the treatment of heart disease, but during clinical trials it was noticed that it also helped treat erectile dysfunction. In 1998, Pfizer received FDA approval to license the product for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

In 2013, the Pfizer patent on Viagra ended in the EU, allowing generic manufacturers to start producing their own version. The generic version of the drug is known as Sildenafil which is the active ingredient in Viagra. The name Viagra is still a brand name which only Pfizer can use. So effectively in the market the drug can be bought as either the branded Pfizer product Viagra, or the generic drug Sildenafil.

Appearance

Pfizer, as well as holding the rights to use the brand name Viagra, has a patent on the unique blue diamond appearance of Viagra. For many people, Viagra is known as “the little blue pill” and this is still associated with only the branded Pfizer product. The generic product is produced as white tablets. The appearance of the product is purely cosmetic and has no medical difference.

Price

Sildenafil is a generic drug which means that its price is not controlled by a single manufacturer. As several manufacturers produce Sildenafil, the market is very competitive which has helped drive down the price substantially. Viagra on the other hand is produced only by Pfizer who control the price without any competition. As Viagra is a well known brand name, Pfizer are able to charge a premium price. However, as Sildenafil becomes more well established it is expected that demand for the branded Viagra product will decrease and the price for Viagra will drop as a consequence.

Effectiveness

Viagra has been proven to be a very effective treatment for erectile dysfunction with over 80 percent of men finding it works for them. Sildenafil is produced by several manufacturers and contains the exact same medical ingredient and dosage as the branded Viagra counterpart. To receive market approval, a generic medicine must be ‘bioequivalent’ to the branded product which ensures that the generic product has the same effectiveness.

As a result you can be confident that the Sildenafil sold in the UK is as effective as the branded Viagra tablets.