History of Viagra(Sildenafil Citrate)
Viagra was initially developed to treat heart disease (angina). In trial studies, the penile erection enhancing effects were noticed. The drug was patented in 1996, approved by the FDA on March 27, 1998 (becoming the first pill approved to treat erectile dysfunction in the United States) and offered for sale in the United States later that year. It soon became a smashing success. Even though Viagra is only available by prescription from a doctor, it was advertised directly to consumers on TV (famously being endorsed by Bob Dole). Numerous sites on the Internet offer Viagra for sale after an “online consultation”, a mere web questionnaire. It is likely that many men (and some women) experiment with the drug to increase sexual prowess or pleasure. Annual sales of Viagra in the period 1999 – 2001 exceeded $1 billion.
It has been suggested that Viagra would lead to a marked drop in the demand for certain traditional remedies, such as tiger penises and rhinoceros horns and that the drug may therefore help to preserve these endangered species. However, this is unlikely in that these parts of endangered species are not only used to treat impotence. Rhinoceros horns, for example, are used as a treatment for high fever. Further, since Viagra has not been shown to possess aphrodisiac properties, it is unclear that the natural remedies would compete with this new clinical drug.
The “Viagra” name has become so well known that many fake aphrodisiacs now call themselves “herbal Viagra” or are presented as blue tablets imitating the shape and colour of Pfizer’s product.
Pfizer’s worldwide patents on sildenafil citrate will expire in 2011 – 2013. The UK patent held by Pfizer on the use of PDE5 inhibitors (see below) as treatment of impotence has been invalidated in 2000 because of obviousness; this decision was upheld on appeal in 2002.
A mixture of Viagra and ecstasy, called sextasy, has become popular among rave partygoers.
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