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NEW YORK — Actavis Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. have released generic versions of Pfizer’s Viagra in Europe.
On Monday, Actavis said it launched sildenafil tablets in strengths of 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablets in immediately after patents expired in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Actavis added that it first launched sildenafil tablets in Bulgaria in June 2009 — the first generic sildenafil to enter the patent-free Bulgarian market — and has since launched the product in various other patent-free markets in Europe, including Iceland and Malta.
Meanwhile, Teva said Monday that it rolled out sildenafil immediately on patent expirations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Denmark. The company reported that it had already launched the product in Spain, Canada and other countries.
"Teva has a proud track record of bringing high-quality generics to the market on day one of patent expiry, and we have been able to launch sildenafil immediately on patent expiry in all the major markets of Europe," stated Dipankar Bhattacharjee, president and chief executive officer of Europe generics for Teva. "The launch today of sildenafil will bring choice to the pharmacy to help them serve the patient and to help ensure that high-quality health care in Europe is affordable."
Sildenafil, the generic equivalent of Pfizer’s Viagra, is prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Viagra had sales of 382.2 million euros ($502 million U.S.) in Europe for the 12 months ended March 31, according to IMS Health data cited by Actavis.
In 2011, Pfizer’s U.S. patent for Viagra expiring in 2019 was upheld in federal court. The company’s patent protection for Viagra in the United States later was extended to 2020.
Last month, Pfizer launched a new Viagra purchasing website and home delivery service powered by CVS/pharmacy. The drug maker said the solution will give consumers more confidence when they buy Viagra, its most counterfeited medicine.
