Spanish, French Travel To Andorra To Buy Anti-Impotence Drug
May 7, 1998
Dow Jones Newswires
MADRID (AP)--Increasing numbers of Spaniards and
French citizens were reported to be traveling to the tiny
mountain state of Andorra to purchase the new
anti-impotency drug Viagra, a hot seller in the U.S. but
so far not on open sale in Europe.
Pharmacies in Andorra, a Pyrenees mountain principality
wedged between Spain and France, began stocking the
drug last week and sales are strong, the leading Spanish
daily El Pais said Wednesday.
Viagra, developed by the multinational pharmaceutical
company Pfizer, is aimed at combating male impotence
and has become much talked about in the U.S. where it
began to be marketed last month.
Most European countries, however, have yet to give it
its approval. Besides Andorra, only the equally tiny
republic of San Marino, lodged in the middle of Italy, is
known to have the drug on sale.
Health department officials in Andorra said they had no
idea how many bottles of the pill had been sold or
imported so far but that they were aware that many
people were interested in the product, El Pais said.
The drug is expected to be tested in clinics in Spain and
most other European Union countries over the coming
year. |
