Viagra Connect available OTC in the U.K.
Pfizer on Tuesday announced its erectile dysfunction remedy Viagra Connect is now available without a prescription in the U.K. It will be exclusively available through Walgreens Boots Alliance's Boots pharmacies for two weeks, the company stated.
“The launch of Viagra Connect offers men a new and convenient route of access to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. It’s important to remember that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, and that the impact often goes beyond the physical symptoms – it can lead to men feeling anxious, depressed and lacking in confidence," Kristie Sourial medical manager, Pfizer, said. "Our hope is that the availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies will encourage men who do nothing about their ED to seek help, and encourage those who are inclined to seek help to do so sooner.”
“We believe this is a great step in making this medicine more widely available to our customers," Richard Bradley, pharmacy director, Boots U.K., said. "Boots is the leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer in the U.K. with over 2,500 stores, making this medicine widely accessible. ... This launch further expands the role of community pharmacy and we hope that it will play a part in reducing pressures on the overall healthcare system. Erectile dysfunction can have a big impact on confidence and relationships so we hope providing better and convenient access to this treatment will help encourage men to seek help via a simple, discreet consultation in store.”
The U.K. model may inform the possible switch of erectile dysfunction remedies from prescription-only to OTC in the U.S. The generic patents protecting both Lilly's Cialis and Pfizer's Viagra expired last year.
If Cialis does make the transformation from Rx-only to OTC, it will be done under the guidance of Sanofi Consumer, which bought the OTC rights to the ED remedy from Lilly in 2014.
Men can purchase Viagra Connect in pharmacies and online after answering a series of straightforward questions to help determine if the product is suitable for them. Their answers will be checked over by a pharmacist before they receive the product. In-store, men can ask to speak to a pharmacist in a private consultation room if preferred.
Where Viagra Connect is supplied, pharmacists will advise men to follow-up with their doctor at their earliest convenience - no later than six months after first being supplied the product, so that any potential underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease can be investigated.
It is estimated that erectile problems affect up to 21% of men – or roughly 4.3 million men in the U.K. Despite this, a new study shows that 44% of men with erectile dysfunction aged 40 and over have not sought medical help, even though it can have a significant impact on their confidence and self-esteem. Of those men that have sought help, as many as 27% admitted that they wished that they had sought help sooner.
Viagra Connect will sell for £19.99 for a 4 tablet pack and £34.99 for an 8 tablet pack. That represents approximately $30 and $50, respectively.
“The launch of Viagra Connect offers men a new and convenient route of access to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. It’s important to remember that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, and that the impact often goes beyond the physical symptoms – it can lead to men feeling anxious, depressed and lacking in confidence," Kristie Sourial medical manager, Pfizer, said. "Our hope is that the availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies will encourage men who do nothing about their ED to seek help, and encourage those who are inclined to seek help to do so sooner.”
“We believe this is a great step in making this medicine more widely available to our customers," Richard Bradley, pharmacy director, Boots U.K., said. "Boots is the leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer in the U.K. with over 2,500 stores, making this medicine widely accessible. ... This launch further expands the role of community pharmacy and we hope that it will play a part in reducing pressures on the overall healthcare system. Erectile dysfunction can have a big impact on confidence and relationships so we hope providing better and convenient access to this treatment will help encourage men to seek help via a simple, discreet consultation in store.”
The U.K. model may inform the possible switch of erectile dysfunction remedies from prescription-only to OTC in the U.S. The generic patents protecting both Lilly's Cialis and Pfizer's Viagra expired last year.
If Cialis does make the transformation from Rx-only to OTC, it will be done under the guidance of Sanofi Consumer, which bought the OTC rights to the ED remedy from Lilly in 2014.
Men can purchase Viagra Connect in pharmacies and online after answering a series of straightforward questions to help determine if the product is suitable for them. Their answers will be checked over by a pharmacist before they receive the product. In-store, men can ask to speak to a pharmacist in a private consultation room if preferred.
Where Viagra Connect is supplied, pharmacists will advise men to follow-up with their doctor at their earliest convenience - no later than six months after first being supplied the product, so that any potential underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease can be investigated.
It is estimated that erectile problems affect up to 21% of men – or roughly 4.3 million men in the U.K. Despite this, a new study shows that 44% of men with erectile dysfunction aged 40 and over have not sought medical help, even though it can have a significant impact on their confidence and self-esteem. Of those men that have sought help, as many as 27% admitted that they wished that they had sought help sooner.
Viagra Connect will sell for £19.99 for a 4 tablet pack and £34.99 for an 8 tablet pack. That represents approximately $30 and $50, respectively.