Viagra’s average price in October was up slightly from September, while the average price for sildenafil jumped roughly $1.80 from its September level.
Between them, Viagra and its generic equivalent, sildenafil citrate, remain the best-selling erectile dysfunction drugs by far. The continuing popularity of Pfizer’s little blue pill and its generic is all the more remarkable when you take into account the fact that Viagra has been on the market since 1998, or nearly 22 years.
Perhaps it’s Viagra’s strong demand that has managed to keep its prices relatively firm in the past couple of years, even though it has faced limited generic competition.
Average Prices in October
The average price of a 100-milligram tablet of Viagra in October 2019 was $77.05, according to the Secure Medical monthly review of prescription drug prices. By contrast, the average price of a same-size dose of sildenafil was $24.89 in October.
The price review each month surveys prices at 18 major prescription drug retailers — 15 conventional retailers, including both national and regional chains, and three that operate exclusively online.
Popularity of Pill Splitting
Secure Medical’s decision to compare prices for 100-milligram doses for Viagra and sildenafil is based on the widely accepted practice of splitting pills to save money. The listed prices for a tablet of 50 or 100 milligrams are identical. That being so, price-savvy consumers have long ago adopted the practice of buying the higher-strength pills and splitting them to yield two 50-milligram doses for the price of one. And the recommended starting dose for Viagra is 50 milligrams.
Viagra’s average price of $77.05 in October was up slightly from its average of $76.99 in August and September but down from its average of $79.28 in July 2019. The $24.89 average price of sildenafil was up from $23.08 in September, even with its August price of $24.89, but down sharply from its average price of $33.56 in July.
A Unique Situation
Ordinarily, generic competition is held off until the final patents of a brand-name drug have expired. The current Viagra-sildenafil situation is an exception. Under an agreement that Pfizer reached with Teva Pharmaceuticals in December 2013, the latter was allowed to begin marketing a generic version of Viagra on December 11, 2017. For this privilege, Teva pays Pfizer a licensing fee.
However, in just a few months — April 2020 to be exact — Pfizer’s final U.S. patent on Viagra will expire, opening the door to wider generic competition. Some market observers have argued that Pfizer has tried to hold the line on Viagra prices until then as it seeks to reap maximum profits from the popular brand name.
Increased Competition Likely
Whatever the case may be, April 2020 is almost certain to usher in an era of broader competition for the Viagra/sildenafil dollar, putting greater price pressure on both the brand-name drug and existing generic versions. Teva isn’t the only game in town when it comes to generic Viagra. Greenstone LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer, also markets its own formulation of sildenafil.
Greater generic competition is certain to drive the price of sildenafil even lower than it is today and should also increase the pressure on Pfizer to lower its price on the brand-name drug. Only time will tell, however.
Ordering ED Drugs Online
For those who’d prefer to order their Viagra, sildenafil, or other ED drug online, doing so through eDrugstore.com could save you both time and money. Online ordering means no more trips to and from the local pharmacy and no more waiting in line.
And if you don’t yet have a prescription for your preferred ED drug, eDrugstore has a service that can help. Its complimentary online consultation service will connect you with a licensed U.S. physician who can authorize a prescription if appropriate. Shipping is free, and all first orders come with a free pill-splitter. Pay a visit to eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page to learn more.
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