The erectile dysfunction drug market is one of the most competitive industries in the world. There are dozens, if not hundreds of companies trying to develop a product that can replace Viagra. Since its launch in 1991, the drug has consistently sold around the world for around $1 per pill. However, in 2014 its price doubled to $2 per pill. What happened?
Sildenafil is a tablet that was developed by a company called Pfizer. It was approved for medical use in 1998 and immediately began competing with Viagra for the lucrative ED market. Sildenafil was significantly cheaper than Viagra and made it easier for doctors to prescribe. This coupled with Pfizer’s marketing efforts caused Viagra’s price to increase by more than 100% in just five years. In fact, since 2010 its price has been climbing as fast as 300%.
This is most likely because Viagra is such a popular drug. It’s been around for more than 20 years and is available for less than 1% of the world’s population. That means around 200 million people are using it. While this is great news for those who need it and enjoy its effectiveness, it also means there’s a lot of competition in the market. This is why Viagra’s price is constantly on the rise.
Sildenafil is More Effective
Sildenafil is significantly more effective than Viagra. The maximum recommended dose of Sildenafil is 100 mg. However, studies have shown that even a dose as low as 12.5 mg can provide sufficient erection relief for around 75% of the men who take it. This is in comparison to Viagra whose maximum recommended dose is 50 mg and no lower than 25 mg can provide sufficient relief. Although Viagra is significantly more affordable than Sildenafil, the latter still costs around 10 times more than the former. This is mainly because Sildenafil was developed specifically to combat erectile dysfunction while Viagra was meant to increase blood flow to the penis and therefore improve sensitivity. It’s no wonder why Viagra is a lot more popular than Sildenafil as it is easier to get and a lot less expensive to buy.
Sildenafil Has More Adjuvant Health Benefits
One of the reasons why Sildenafil is so effective is because it has more adjuvant health benefits than other ED drugs. This is mainly because it’s a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor – an enzyme that limits the effect of cGMP and therefore increases blood flow to the penis. In addition to this, Sildenafil also reverses erectile dysfunction in cases where cancer has invaded the male libido gland or if the patient has an enlarged prostate. It is also a blood thinner and in some cases can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. All of these benefits are why Sildenafil is so expensive compared to other ED drugs.
The Cost of R&D Is One Of The Main Reasons For Its High Priced
The cost of R&D is why most drugs are so expensive. This is particularly the case when you compare them to other ED drugs. Although Sildenafil was discovered over 20 years ago, Pfizer spent close to a billion dollars on research and development before it was approved for medical use. This is mainly because they wanted to make sure the medication was both safe and effective. Once approved, Pfizer spent around another billion dollars on marketing. This is why the price of Sildenafil is so high even though it is significantly more affordable than most people think. This is also why other ED medications are so much cheaper. They didn’t have to spend the same amount of money on R&D and could therefore sell their product for a lower price.
It Has A Longer Shelf Life
Sildenafil has a longer shelf life than most other ED drugs. This is mainly because it inhibits phosphodiesterase type 5 – an enzyme that breaks down cGMP. Nitrates such as glyceryl nitrate and nitroglycerin are also sensitive to oxygen and heat and therefore have a shorter shelf life. This is why they are more commonly found in health food stores and gas stations than medicine stores and supermarkets.
This is an important fact to know if you’re planning to purchase Sildenafil. Even though it’s significantly more affordable than most people think, it can still be quite expensive. Make sure you have enough money to purchase it and that you won’t be needing it for more than a few months at the most. If you’re in a country that requires you to have a prescription for it, make sure you contact your doctor or pharmacist about how long you will need it. If you don’t have access to a medical professional, then look up erectile dysfunction online and get educated about the medication.