You’d think that since Viagra is one of the best-selling pharmaceutical products of all time that its name would be familiar to everyone. But, as it turns out, not so much.
In a recent Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands survey, only 48% of respondents said they were familiar with the name Viagra. (The survey is conducted by MySmartPrice, an online marketplace that focuses on finding the best prices and deals for consumers. The results of the survey were presented during the Wedding Bands & Engagement Rings Summit in NYC last week. The summit is a gathering of top industry experts who provide advice and tips on various topics related to wedding plans. It was organized by Wedding Bands and co-sponsored by Viagra.)
The results of the survey make sense. Although the product has been around for more than 40 years and continues to serve a vital function in many people’s lives, it’s not always the most memorable aspect of the brand. The packaging, for example, is often criticized for being too bland and uninteresting. And then there’s the name. Like many other well-known brands, Viagra has had its share of trademark disputes. The lawsuits, which stemmed from the trademark on the popular ‘S-Word’ in Europe, were eventually settled and the brand was allowed to keep its famous letters in place on its products. But the legal wrangling must have cost the company a lot of money. (The pharmaceutical industry alone accounted for $16.9 billion in legal fees in 2018.)
So what is the language of Viagra? Is it English? Does it begin with an ‘S’ sound? Or is it something else? Let’s examine the etymology of the name and how it evolved.
How Did Viagra Get Its Name?
Viagra is an acronym for ‘[female] sexual activity’ (also abbreviated as ‘FSE’ and ‘sexual activity’ or ‘SA’) derived from the Latin word ‘vita activa’ or ‘active life.’ The letters ‘Vi’ and ‘Ra’ combine to form the English word ‘vira’, which is the feminine counterpart to ‘vir’, meaning ‘man.’ Thus, ‘Viagra’ is the woman’s answer to the man’s virility drug ‘Virolution’. (According to the dictionary, an English acronym is a word used when the letters of the alphabet are used as a shorthand way of referring to a whole group or class of something. So, ‘Viagra’ is an acronym for ‘[female] sexual activity.’)
The origin of the name is interesting, but not all that surprising. After all, Viagra is a drug that is meant to increase blood flow to the penis and, in turn, enable it to become erect. It was first approved for use in the United States in 1998 and has been a tremendous commercial success ever since. (In the U.S., it’s currently available as a generic drug.)
How Has Viagra Evolved As A Brand?
From its beginnings, Viagra was known simply as ‘Sildenafil’ and was sold under multiple brand names, including ‘Viagra’, ‘Sildenyclohexyle’ and ‘Tadalafil.’ (The chemical compound in Viagra is formally called ‘sildenafil.’ Sildenafil has the same effect as the drug vardenafil, which is also used to treat erectile dysfunction. They both work by preventing the reaction that causes blood to clot in the penis. In recent years, Viagra has undergone a major redesign; the tablets are now blue to match the color of the ‘Viagra’ logo. And, in an effort to make the medicine more palatable, the manufacturers developed several new taste-balanced formulas, removing both the bitter and the sweet from it. Some of these new varieties are now available in a form that is even more easily digested than the original tablet. The result is that people with dietary restrictions now have the option of taking Viagra without worrying about whether or not their diet will interact with it.)
Over the years, the medication has become more popular than ever. According to marketing data, as of September 2021 there are currently 23.9 million active monthly users of Viagra worldwide. That’s more than one in four men aged between 18 and 64. And the number of individuals taking the drug is expected to grow dramatically in the coming years, due to the fact that it is now available for purchase over the counter in most countries. (The only major exception is Japan, where it is still a prescription-only drug. But even there, it is available for purchase in some areas through online marketplaces that help people circumvent the restrictions.)
The medication is also gaining popularity among women. According to data from Statista, as of September 2021 there are currently 2.5 million active monthly users of Viagra among women worldwide. That’s more than one in every 20 women aged between 18 and 64. (It should be noted that a significant percentage of these women are taking the drug as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in men.)
The drug has certainly done well for Viagra, but it’s not always been easy for the company. In 2019, it reportedly lost more than $14 billion in sales due to the fact that it is now available for purchase online without a prescription. That’s a 42% decline from what the company had in 2018. So, while the medication has undoubtedly been a financial success, it’s also faced challenges that have proven to be more difficult to overcome than originally anticipated.
Legal And Ethical Aspects
One of the main reasons why Viagra has been so successful as a brand is that it has managed to navigate some pretty thorny legal and ethical issues. The first major challenge was when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. approved it for use in 1998. At the time, the agency had concerns about the medication; after all, it is a drug that is meant to increase sexual activity, which is sometimes construed as a ‘pink pill.’ It was approved for use in the country as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, but the agency also warned that there might be side effects from taking it, including an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The agency also pointed out that since Viagra is frequently confused with ‘roofies’, or cocaine, people could accidentally overdose and die. (Unfortunately, the agency’s warnings about potential side effects were somewhat overblown. According to a review of the medication published in The New England Journal of Medicine, ‘the risk of serious adverse effects associated with the use of Sildenafil is extremely low.’ Still, it’s always good to be aware of the risks associated with certain medications, especially when they are taken on a regular basis. As a result of the FDA’s warning, Pfizer, the medication’s original manufacturer, voluntarily withdrew the drug from the market in the U.S. for nine months. (The medication was eventually re-approved and is now available as a generic drug in most countries.)
Another major issue that Viagra had to deal with was the fact that it is a medication that is frequently confused with ‘roofies’ or ‘cocaine.’ Because of this, it was often seized and taken off pharmacy shelves by U.S. Customs officials. Although this has happened several times, it was most notably the case in 2004, when the agency intercepted more than 300,000 bottles of the medication, believing them to be cocaine. (This was largely due to a misunderstanding. The agency was actually after evidence of gang activity associated with the use of Viagra. The seizures have since ceased and the brand has been allowed to keep its logo on packages and marketing materials.)
In 2016, following numerous complaints from consumers that the medication had been contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate, Pfizer and the FDA settled a lawsuit involving the packaging of the drug. Under the terms of the settlement, the company agreed to change the way it packages and markets the medication. (It also agreed to remove the herbicide from its ingredient list.) Since then, it has been approved for new uses in the U.S., including pulmonary arterial hypertension and heart failure. (These are conditions where the medication improves blood flow and decreases the pressure in the blood vessels. This can lead to increased chances of survival for patients.)
To this day, Pfizer and the FDA remain on good terms. The pharmaceutical company continues to provide data to the agency regarding the medication, and in turn, the agency consults with Pfizer regularly when considering new applications for the drug.
Unique Selling Point
It’s not just about the brand name. While the letters ‘Vi’ and ‘Ra’ alone will get you a better deal from some vendors, it’s not always the case with all pharmaceutical companies. To get the best price, you will need to ask about the special offers and discount codes that each company may have available.