Pfizer: OTC version of Viagra ‘being considered’

Following increasing pressure from competitor Eli Lilly’s Cialis medication, Pfizer has announced that it is to consider selling an over-the-counter (OTC) form of its anti-impotence pharmaceutical, Viagra.

Responding to recent speculation in British publication The Business, Pfizer informed Reuters of the possibility of eventually launching such a product.

In a statement to Reuters, the company said: “As with many of our products, Pfizer routinely evaluated a number of options [for Viagra], including different formulations, new indications, OTC etc, and continues to do so.”

However, the company added that it was not planning on releasing an orally-administered spray formulation of the drug, despite such claims being made in The Business.

In response to this statement, The Day reports that analysts are sceptical that Pfizer will genuinely pursue an OTC form of Viagra due to the negligible chances of regulatory approval for such a product.

As the drug can cause complications when taken in conjunction with drugs for chest pain, along with other potential adverse affects, it is felt that Viagra will remain available exclusively on prescription.

In June 2005, Pfizer reported that an analysis of post-marketing ocular event reports concluded that their existed no evidence for patients taking Viagra having an increased risk of blindness.