Colombian Viagra copy sales soar

13 March 2000

In Colombia, the government has refused to recognize Pfizer's patent onthe impotence drug Viagra (sildenafil), and has approved the sale of a copy version of the drug made by local firm Lafrancol SA under the brand name Eroxim, notes a Reuters report.

Jose Fernando Isaacs, head of Lafrancol's business and marketing division, says that sales of Eroxim, which is priced at about half the cost of Viagra, have already exceeded expectations. "Our product has all the same levels of quality and the same effects as Viagra, but with the advantage that we offer it at a lower and fairer price," he told Reuters.

Viagra was approved for sale in Colombia in 1998, but in January the government declined to give Pfizer a patent, with the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce arguing that the firm had already obtained patents on Viagra's active ingredient for use in other drugs earmarked for treatment of heart disease. The company has said it will take the government to court over the ruling.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK



Company News Directory

Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight