Viagra is Approved in Japan, Pfizer Announces
NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japanese Minister of Health and Welfare (MHW) has given final approval for Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Pfizer Inc's oral therapy for erectile dysfunction.
Viagra received an expedited review by the MHW and will become available in about one month, Pfizer said. The first treatment for erectile dysfunction approved by the MHW, Viagra was cleared for marketing after the government concluded that "there is no problem on safety and its effectiveness," an MHW official said publicly on Monday.
"We are very pleased by MHW approval, which was based on a comprehensive clinical trial program, including Viagra trials conducted in Japan and MHW's review of worldwide post-approval usage," said Henry A. McKinnell, Jr., Ph.D., president, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group. "We provided MHW with clinical information from countries where Viagra is already approved, including the United States, where 200,000 physicians have written approximately 7 million prescriptions for more than 3 million men."
Pfizer is beginning a series of medical education programs to increase Japanese physician and patient understanding of erectile dysfunction as a treatable medical condition. Viagra will be manufactured in Japan.
Viagra is currently available in 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Australia. Viagra has recently been approved in Taiwan.
Pfizer Inc is a research-based pharmaceutical company with global operations. In 1998 the company reported sales of more than $13.5 billion and invested more than $2.2 billion in research and development.
SOURCE Pfizer Inc
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