Britain is to become the first country to reclassify Viagra so the drug can be sold over the counter, the medicines regulator announced today.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer has spent almost a decade fighting to get an over-the-counter designation for Viagra in the UK, Fortune magazine says, and has also tried to get the EU to approve a change to the drug’s current prescription-only status.
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The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency says the over-the-counter designation will lessen the risk of men getting fake drugs online, The Times reports.
The agency has seized more than £50m of unlicensed and counterfeit versions since 2012.
Berkeley Phillips, the UK medical director of Pfizer, told The Times that “some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist and buy Viagra Connect could be a real step forward in encouraging more men into the healthcare system”.
Pharmacists will not sell the drug to men with severe cardiovascular disorders, high cardiovascular risk or severe kidney failure, or those taking specific interacting medications.
Viagra Connect - which will be available in four-tablet and eight-tablet packs, with recommended retail prices of £19.99 and £34.99 respectively - contains the generic drug sildenafil.
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