Pfizer withdraws Viagra application

Pfizer has said it has pulled a bid to sell Viagra over the counter – and without prescription – in Europe, following regulators’ concerns about safety.

The withdrawal of the application follows the European Medicines Agency’s Medicinal Products for Human Use statement, saying it had apprehensions about the product.

Pfizer said the pulling of the item will enable evaluation of additional data and further information.

It continued: “[This] may be required to allow any future assessments under the centralised procedure.”

The company has added it still thinks the drug, at a 50 milligram dose, is a suitable candidate for non-prescription supply through pharmacists.

Pfizer’s international sales of Viagra in the third quarter were up 13 per cent from a year earlier, at $273 million (183 million pounds).

In other news, the company has announced the launch of a new research unit, named Pfizer Regenerative Medicine.

As a result, the organisation is set to announce several scientific collaborations in the coming weeks.

Based in New York, US, Pfizer’s 2007 revenues were $48.4 billion, with research and development spending accounting for $8.1 billion.

As well as Viagra, the company’s products also include Celebrex, Eraxis, Lyrica and Zyvox.