Viagra Price Formation, Patents and New Cheap Types
Until recently, high retail prices were among common reasons why men discontinued Viagra treatment. In 2015, a single pill of branded Viagra cost $60 in the United States, but suffering from impotence, men readily paid the price to enjoy sex again. Today the price range is incredible, and pills which are essentially identical can be bought for something between $40 and 90 cents. While reasons for such price diversity remains unclear to many, potential consumers are often puzzled by choosing from a wide selection of brand and generic ED medications. Here are the main reasons why brand-name Viagra is so ridiculously expensive and its imported replicas hardly cost anything.
Viagra, the one and only
The invention of sildenafil, a potent chemical compound with erection-improving properties, was a sensation in the pharmaceutical market. Being the first-ever oral medication for ED treatment, the new drug marketed as Viagra caused a vigorous response, since erectile dysfunction has been a widespread and desperate condition with no efficient treatment available. Although sildenafil was discovered back in 1989, it gained approval for sale in the US and Europe first in 1998. Pfizer has spent more than 10 years for drug development and clinical studies that would convince the world that Viagra is safe and efficient. When the drug was finally approved, Pfizer, as the patent holder, had the exclusive right to market Viagra, one-of-a-kind pill that instantly removed the signs of erectile dysfunction. However, large R&D investments was not the only and not the main reason why the blue pill became so expensive.
Pricing in the pharmaceutical industry
Although retail prices for pharmaceutical products are developed differently depending on particular state policies, there are two main principles. Market-based pricing mechanism is based on supply and demand for the product. High product attractiveness, quality and exclusivity naturally result in higher prices. The second is related to government intervention in drug pricing, which is carried out quite differently in the world’s countries. This gives some understanding why Viagra prices in the US are the highest in the world. The US government, unlike most other countries, does not control prescription drug prices, to attract more capital into innovative drug development. However, as a result many people are not being able to afford the necessary drugs when the prices get to high. Having the exclusive right to market Viagra, which is highly demanded and has little competition, Pfizer used the opportunity to make a fortune on the famous blue pill.
Viagra price drop expected in 2020
While Viagra remained the only ED pill for a certain time, soon the world saw its first competitors, Cialis (tadalafil, approved in 2003) and Levitra (vardenafil, approved in 2003). The properties of these drugs are almost identical, and the later two possess particular advantages over Viagra. Obviously, Pfizer had to maintain a competitive price, even though it remained too high for many consumers. Patent expiration, however, will finally bring a real price drop that everyone have been waiting for. The company received an exclusive right to market Viagra for 20 years, and the present patent will expire in April 2020. This will open the way for numerous Viagra generics imported from India and China, where these drugs hardly cost anything. Pfizer has already prepared for the inflow of cheap Viagra analogs and announced the launch of its own generic Viagra, which will be much cheaper than the original.
Cheap Viagra from India and China
An inquisitive buyer will wonder why there are so many generic Viagra offers on web, pills being mainly produced in India and China. In comparison with brand-name Viagra, generic sildenafil drugs costs mere pennies, some online pharmacies offering pills for 50 cents only. Although online pharmacies assure high quality and efficiency, their products cause both interest and concern. Customers have a hard time believing that products with such enormous difference in price can give the same result. Aren’t Pfizer’s patents valid in India, anyway?
According to Indian law, patents cover only the manufacturing process and not the product itself. Simply put, Indian companies can freely produce any pharmaceutical drugs. This legal practice has been a headache for many pharmaceutical giants, who eventually had to give up trying to enforce their patents in the country. This circumstance has not only advantages in high market competition and low drug prices, but also weaknesses associated with a large volume of low-quality products. However, many Indian products still show decent quality and efficiency when compared to the original. Coming to a conclusion, when buying generic Viagra from abroad, one should consider the risks and choose proven drugstores with reliable suppliers.
Conclusion
In the nearest future, a significant price drop should be expected for Pfizer Viagra, which position would be threatened by an inflow of cheap Viagra copies from abundant pharmaceutical markets of India and China. Generic drugs do not necessarily possess inferior quality, even if they are much cheaper than the original. High prices for branded drugs are often dictated not by their high quality, but by their exclusive position on the market, though this situation cannot last forever. While nowadays it is easy to order cheap generic Viagra from other countries, it should be done with caution. Viagra is one of the most frequently counterfeited drugs, which fills the market with placebo pills and potentially harmful products. Always buy generic Viagra in reliable online pharmacies to save money and ensure getting a quality product.
Disclaimer: The information on this website in intended for reference purposes only; it should not be used for self-diagnosis and self-therapy, which can lead to undesirable consequences. In writing this article, the author sought to use the most accurate information available in the public domain. This does not mean, however, that readers can fully rely on it when dealing with health issues. Only a certified health worker should diagnose and pick optimal treatment for the patient, prescribe drugs and approve the use of particular pharmaceutical products.