(Adnkronos Salute) – Its patent will expire next June [22], but for over a year already a dozen companies have begun to forward their request for Authorization to the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) trade (Aic) of generic versions of the world's most popular anti-impotence drug, Viagra*. In fact, when commercial protection expires, the possibility of selling identical products opens up but, since without 'brand names', less expensive. In fact, the 'lists of active substances' for which the evaluation procedure for the release of the MA was launched and published on the AIFA website between December 2011 and November 2012, includes a total of 9 applications for the green light for products of sildenafil. The lists refer to the applications presented according to the national, decentralized and mutual recognition procedure, or for centralized procedures, following the request for classification and price, relating to the same products, specifies AIFA. Among the other active ingredients being evaluated during the year are many antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and molecules intended for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The arrival of 'low cost' versions of the first erectile dysfunction drug, produced by Pfizer, could at least partially curb the phenomenon of online purchases of this medicine, which is also the most counterfeited by far, together with some anabolic steroids . According to the Ministry of Health, a search for 'buy Viagra' on Google in May 2011 yielded 29,200,000 results, while in March 2012 there were as many as 106,000,000 (+293%).
January 18, 2013
