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The April 2020 expiration of Pfizer’s final U.S. patents on Viagra should usher in an era of increased generic competition — and lower prices. It should also stimulate research into other forms of erectile dysfunction treatment.
Introduction
In April 2020, pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer will lose the last of its U.S. patents on Viagra, the iconic little blue pill that singlehandedly revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
At that point, all but one (Stendra is the sole exception) of the brand-name ED drugs available in the United States will face direct generic competition with no real strings attached. Until that time, Teva, which manufactures one of the top-selling generic alternatives to Viagra, must continue to pay Pfizer a hefty licensing fee for the privilege of producing and marketing its generic alternative.
While that moment should mark the opening round in a more heated generic battle for a bigger share of the overall ED medication market, it also might usher in accelerated research into other forms of treatment. The overwhelming popularity of oral ED drugs like Viagra and their virtual monopoly on the market has discouraged some researchers from investing too much of their R&D budgets into finding new and better treatment methods. That is likely to change.
Perhaps most significantly for the men who suffer from an inability to get and keep an erection suitable for intercourse, prices of existing drugs will likely soften as competition heats up.
Drawbacks of PDE5 Inhibitors
While Viagra and the other oral ED drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors have helped millions of men to overcome their symptoms of impotence, these medications are not without their drawbacks.
While these drugs are safe and effective in 60 to 70 percent of all men with ED, they don’t work for everyone. These medications were designed to address the largest single cause of ED — insufficient blood flow to the penis. While such vascular insufficiency is responsible for roughly 80 percent of all ED, it is not the only cause of the disorder.
For men whose ED is primarily psychological in origin, the PDE5 inhibitors do little if anything to help them overcome their problems of impotence. As things now stand, such men must rely on psychological counseling to help them identify the precise cause of their problem. And overcoming that problem usually isn’t accomplished solely by popping a pill, at least not yet.
And, sadly, a certain number of men whose ED may be vascular in origin simply don’t respond positively to Viagra and the other PDE5 inhibitors currently available. These reasons aren’t altogether clear, but the pills simply don’t produce the desired results for certain men.
In still other cases, the generally mild side effects of the PDE5 inhibitors prove unbearable for a small number of men who’ve tried them. Those side effects include back pain, dizziness, facial flushing, headache, indigestion, muscle ache, nausea, and runny or stuffy nose. For most men, such side effects, if they occur at all, are short lived and disappear altogether upon continued use. However, for some men, those side effects can be more acute.
4 Potential New Treatments
Despite the enormous popularity of PDE5 inhibitors, researchers have been working to find alternative treatments in recent years. Generally speaking, however, these research efforts have not been as heavily funded as they might have been were it not for the tight grip the PDE5 inhibitors have on the market.
In a recent article posted at MensHealth.com, writer Eric Spritznagel takes a quick look at some of the more promising new treatments that have been developed in recent years.
- One such treatment involves injections of Botox — yes, the same drug injected to firm up facial muscles — into the penis. Botox temporarily paralyzes the smooth muscles within the penis, which allows increased blood flow into the organ. Each Botox injection lasts for a few months, so treatment would likely involve four to five injections a year. Not too bad, except for extreme needle-phobes who grow faint at the mere mention of injecting a needle directly into the penis.
- Another novel treatment involves the application of a topical gel containing nitroglycerin to the penis. The drug dilates the vessels of the penis, making them much more receptive to the robust blood flow needed to achieve erection. On the downside, the drug tends to sharply lower blood pressure, which could leave patients lightheaded and faint.
- Early research into stem cell therapy as a treatment for ED has produced some promising results, but it is likely to be some time before a reliable form of therapy is developed.
- Perhaps the most promising ED therapy on the horizon, according to MensHealth.com, is low-intensity extracorporeal shock-wave treatment. Already in use in several countries outside the United States, this form of treatment clears plaque from existing blood vessels and may even promote the growth of new blood vessels. The end-result is increased blood flow to the penis, which is essential to achieve and sustain an erection.
Generic Competition to Heat Up
Although Viagra is the oldest of the PDE5 inhibitors on the market, it and its generic equivalents remain the best-selling ED drugs. With the expiration of Pfizer’s final U.S. patents on the drug in April 2020, the number of Viagra’s generic equivalents is almost certain to grow sharply.
The Food and Drug Administration has already approved a number of drugmakers’ applications to produce and market generic versions of the little blue pill. And it is likely that these will begin to appear shortly after Pfizer’s patents finally run out. As more and more generic drugmakers compete for a share of the market, prices seem almost certain to drop.
And because generic Viagra — marketed as sildenafil citrate — competes with other drugs, including Cialis, Levitra, and their generic equivalents, some softening of prices for those other drugs can be expected as well.
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Need for New Treatments Stressed
Despite the immense success of Viagra and the other PDE5 inhibitors, the market for ED therapies needs greater competition as the incidence of ED seems to grow almost exponentially.
What sort of new treatments can we expect in the near future? Interviewed for an article posted at TheGuardian.com, urologist Samit Soni said longer-lasting treatments that work with “the widest patient population possible” are likely near-term goals among researchers. “Many patients would like to be able to take something and then not have to worry about it for 30 days,” said Soni, who is affiliated with the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
In the Meantime
As researchers work feverishly to find innovative new therapies for ED, the current treatment of choice remains Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors that it inspired. To buy these drugs, you’ll need a prescription.
Many have found that ordering Viagra and other ED drugs online can save them time and money. If you have a doctor’s prescription for one of these drugs but would like to order it from eDrugstore.com, you can fax the script or scan and email it along with your order.
Alternatively, eDrugstore can arrange for you a complimentary online consultation with a licensed U.S. physician who can authorize a prescription if appropriate. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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