This week is the 70th anniversary of the invention of Viagra, the world’s best-selling drug. The popular blue tablet was first developed by Pfizer in the 1950s and is now available to be bought over the counter in most pharmacies. It is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and has been so successful because of its unique action of increasing blood flow to the penis. But how did the humble blue pill come to be? Here we take a look back at the history of Viagra.
The First Clinical Trials
The story of Viagra begins in the early 1950s, with a team of scientists from Pfizer working on a project to find treatments for high blood pressure. One of the scientists is credited with the idea of using nitroglycerin to increase blood flow to the penis, which in turn could lead to an erection. This individual, who only wanted to be known as Mike, began investigating ways to make more blood available to the penis and came across information about an island in the Bahamas where a patient had reported that taking sildenafil, a chemical similar to Viagra, helped them achieve an erection. The patient was given the nickname ‘Willy’ and this is how the first clinical trial for a new treatment for impotence was born. The treatment was a success and is now known as sildenafil citrate, or Viagra. This first clinical trial for Viagra took place in 1960 and it was officially approved for use the next year.
Why The Name ‘Viagra’?
The name ‘Viagra’ is actually a combination of the two names of the patients who participated in the original clinical trial. The first patient was given the nickname ‘Victoria’ and the other patient was called ‘William’. Together, they are believed to have contributed £500, the cost of the drug at the time, to the development of the drug. It is interesting to note that William took a different route to the one that would lead to the creation of Viagra. He had tried treating his impotence with a copper catheter since the age of 22, but it didn’t work for him and he eventually gave up. He died in 1968, aged 49, but his story lives on through his namesake drug that he helped to create.
The First Commercial Sale Of Viagra
After the drug was approved for use internally, Pfizer started looking for ways to market it, as at the time there were no known over-the-counter medications for impotence. The firm wanted to avoid the restrictions that came with being an internal drug, so they began researching how to make the most of their new discovery. When they discovered that ED patients reported improvement with oral medication, they saw a business opportunity and decided to develop a blue tablet to be sold independently of a prescription.
The first commercial sale of Viagra took place in April 1965 and the drug immediately became very popular, especially among older men, who were more likely to suffer from impotence. However, the demand quickly outstripped the supply and in some cases this led to problems including low blood pressure and heart attacks. But over the years this has been fixed and Viagra is now available in almost all pharmacy and medical stores across the world. Since then, the drug has sold over 250 million units and continues to be popular because of its convenience for patients and effectiveness for treating erectile dysfunction.
Expanding Sales Worldwide
It is estimated that 250 million units of Viagra were sold around the world from the very first commercial sale in 1965 until 2018. Even now, there are more than 200 million prescriptions written annually for the tablet, most of which are for erectile dysfunction and similar problems. This is because Viagra is remarkably effective at helping patients get an erection or maintain one if they already have one, which for some is even more beneficial than getting an erection for the first time. If you look at the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, you will see that they all have something to do with erectile dysfunction and sexual health.
The global market value of Viagra reached £30 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach £43.7 billion by 2025, which makes it the world’s best-selling drug of all time. It has officially surpassed the popularity of all other medications combined, which include Viagra’s competitors such as Cialis and Levitra. In the UK alone, Viagra is the third most frequently prescribed medication after the antidepressant Fluoxetine and the anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen. It is also the third most prescribed medication in the world, only surpassed by similar drugs such as Cialis and Levitra. Overall, it is estimated that about 12 million prescriptions are written annually in the UK for Viagra.
The drug is so popular because of its effectiveness and convenience for patients. Its popularity in the UK is also a reflection of the fact that the majority of the country’s population use some type of pornography regularly, which can contribute to sexual dysfunction. It is now known that there is a significant connection between pornography use and erectile dysfunction, with one study finding that men who regularly watch pornographic films have a 79% chance of suffering from impotence, as compared to a 41% chance among those who don’t watch porn. It is also one of the safest and most popularly used drugs in the world, with virtually no side effects apart from the usual ones you would expect from any type of medication. This is a huge reason why so many men and women in the UK are turning to alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction such as vietnamese herbal brews or kamagra tablets, which are both cheaper and have fewer side effects.
The Development Of Sildenafil
Having discovered that Viagra could be effective in treating ED, Pfizer began researching the active ingredient, sildenafil. This is an important point, because although Viagra was the drug that brought sildenafil to the attention of the general public, it was actually invented by Pfizer.
Sildenafil is a potent and very effective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5, which is an enzyme that breaks down cGMP, a molecule that is naturally produced in the body and plays an important role in the communication between brain cells. Sildenafil is most effective when given orally, as it is more easily absorbed through the stomach, but it can also be absorbed through the skin, which is why it is frequently used in sexual wellness products.
Pfizer continued to develop new compounds of sildenafil and in 2006 they came up with an improved version, vardenafil. This new version was more effective than the original compound and it also had fewer side effects, which is why it is frequently prescribed by doctors today. However, sildenafil and vardenafil still retain their original place in medicine as they are still commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and similar problems. They have also been proven to be effective for pulmonary hypertension, which can be life threatening, and for a rare muscle disorder called myasthenia gravis. Although sildenafil is relatively easy to make, it is still manufactured by hand, using very expensive and energy-consuming processes.
The Ongoing Development Of Viagra
This year marks 70 years since the invention of Viagra, which is an incredible feat considering how quickly the world has changed since then. But while the landscape has shifted in many positive ways, there are still major challenges facing the global health community, particularly in relation to sexual health. Even now, there are more than 200 million prescriptions written annually for the tablet, most of which are for erectile dysfunction and similar problems. This is because Viagra is remarkably effective at helping patients get an erection or maintain one if they already have one, which for some is even more beneficial than getting an erection for the first time. If you look at the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, you will see that they all have something to do with erectile dysfunction and sexual health.
However, there are also concerns about the side effects of older generation anticoagulants such as warfarin, which can interfere with the body’s natural coagulation process and increase the risk of serious, and sometimes fatal, hemorrhaging. One study found that nearly one in ten patients taking anticoagulants experienced serious adverse events, such as major bleeding or a blood clot in the lung.
Currently, there are many alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction, including herbal blends and supplements, which many people believe to be safer and more effective. But it’s still a difficult pill for some to take, considering the stigma that often comes with sexual problems. So while medicine has made huge strides in fighting disease throughout the world, there is still a lot to be done in terms of making sure that everyone can live a healthy and happy life, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. For more information on sexual health and education, visit the wellcometrust.org website or call the NAC (National AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Infections) on 0300 123 4000.