Pfizer’s little blue pill has a strong hold on the erectile dysfunction market.
With the media blitz the company has done through the years, it would be difficult to find a person that doesn’t know what Viagra can do for men.
However, several drug companies have tried to dip into the ED market by offering a generic form of Viagra. It is an issue that has landed in the court system.
Lawsuit filed
Pfizer has a patent on its blockbuster pill until 2019, but another pharmaceutical company, Teva, tried to challenge that patent and wanted to offer a generic form of the drug sooner. The battle has raged on for months, but a judge recently made a ruling on the hotly contested suit that upholds Pfizer’s patent.
Pfizer reacts
“We are pleased that the court recognized the validity and enforceability of our Viagra patent for the treatment of erectile dysfunction,” Pfizer’s general counsel, Amy Schulman, said in a press release. “Protecting the intellectual property rights of our innovative core is critical, and Friday’s court decision acknowledges Teva’s clear violation of our patent rights.”
A big coupe for the company
Market analysts say this win will pull in big bucks for the company. Pfizer’s victory, if it withstands appeals, will continue to bring in big money for the company. The drug generates about $1 billion in U.S. sales. Leerink Swann has estimated that continued market exclusivity could boost Pfizer earnings by roughly 3% annually between 2013 and 2018, a period in which profit otherwise would be under pressure due to the expected loss of exclusivity later this year for Pfizer’s top-selling Lipitor cholesterol pill.
About Viagra
The popular erectile dysfunction drug was originally being tested to treat heart problems, but when men started getting spontaneous erections while taking the drug the focus of the medication shifted. Now after more than a decade of sales, it has become a top seller and used by men worldwide to enhance their sex life.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook