OTC Viagra will help curb counterfeit sales, says MHRA

Pfizer’s erectile dysfunction drug Viagra will be available for purchase without a prescription from next Spring in the UK, says the national medicines regulator.

Making this medication more widely available “will help direct men who might not otherwise seek help into the healthcare system and away from the risks that come with buying medicines from websites operating illegally,” said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in a statement.

Viagra and other ED drugs have been a perennial target for counterfeiters, seeking to cash in on the reluctance of some men to approach their doctors for a prescription, although the stigma seems to have been receding with National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions tripling over the last decade, likely also because the cost of the drug has plummeted since it lost patent protection in 2013.

There is still clearly a massive demand for the drug via illicit channels, however, with investigators from the MHRA intercepting more than £50m-worth of unlicensed and counterfeit ED medicines, £17m of that total in 2016 alone.

There has reportedly been a spike in use of the drug by young men seeking to improve sexual performance, or to offset the libido-sapping effects of some recreational drugs.

After it officially becomes available as a pharmacy medicine, it will be possible to buy the drug over-the-counter (OTC) only after a discussion with the pharmacist to determine whether treatment is appropriate and to make sure there are no contraindications, such as severe cardiovascular disease, liver or kidney disease, or use of other drugs that might interact with Viagra.

“Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care, and do not feel they need to turn to counterfeit online supplies which could have potentially serious side effects,” said Mick Foy, the MHRA’s group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines.

The UK is the first country worldwide to approved OTC use of Viagra Connect – a 50mg version of the drug that will cost £19.99 for four tablets an £34.99 for eight tablets when it goes on sale.

A Pfizer-commissioned survey in 2011 found that men were still placing themselves at risk of counterfeits - such as buying ED medicines from Internet pharmacies advertised by spam (27 per cent) or based on an online search (36 per cent) - despite public awareness drives to highlight the dangers of buying drugs from rogue pharmacies.