Viagra, the little blue pill, which manufactured by Pfizer, has reported stronger Q3 global sales.
Viagra sales increased by nearly 30% from Q2 to Q3 2020 despite extensive generic competition from more than 500 erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs marketed globally, including direct competition from Teva Pharmaceutical that develops generic sildenafil citrate.
The GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, Drug Sales and Consensus Forecast database has found that Viagra “gained an additional $27m in global sales between 2020 Q2 and Q3, reporting $121m in Q3.”
This increase in Viagra sales is surprising since it lost its patent in the European market in 2013. Since then, it has reported a 35% average decrease in global sales. This minor decline in Viagra sales has been impressive considering the fact that its patent expired in the United States in April.
That minor decline has surprised people despite Teva started distributing generic Viagra in the US market in 2017.
The current Q3 sales of Viagra have been surprising. “The growth in Q3 sales was driven primarily by larger-than-anticipated sales in China due to its significant Covid-19 recovery,” according to Pfizer’s Q3 financial filing.
Besides, there were strong sales in other international markets, apart from the three major markets of the US, EU, US, and Japan, accounting for nearly 80% of Viagra sales in Q3.
Viagra is one of the blockbuster ED drugs. It helps men with ED to have stronger and durable erections during sexual activity. Millions of men across the world have been using this little blue pill to regain their lost erectile function.
The drug generated more than $1 billion in sales every year for 17 years, reaching a peak of $2.1 billion in 2012.
Now, Viagra has become part of Upjohn, Pfizer’s division that covers off-patent branded and generic medicines. In November 2020, Upjohn merged with Mylan to become the new company Viatris.
The 2002 Q3 sales of Viagra has been a significant boost as far as the revenue for Pfizer is concerned. This will not stop Viagra’s sales even though there are many generics available in the market. Experts predicted that 2020 will be the lowest recorded sales for Viagra. The article was originally published in Pharmaceutical Technology.
