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To: Anthony Wong who wrote (324)	6/16/1998 1:50:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

Pfizer Warns Hong Kong Men Against Phony Viagra Trial Bloomberg News June 15, 1998, 10:13 p.m. PT Pfizer Warns Hong Kong Men Against Phony Viagra Trial Hong Kong, June 16 (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Corp. has warned Hong Kong men not to be taken in by an advertisement for a phony trial of Viagra, its wildly popular anti-impotency drug which has not yet been approved for sale here. The company said it had no connection with advertisements, one of which the South China Morning Post newspaper said claimed to be from ''a large organization'' looking for men to test ''the real effect'' of the drug. The real aim of the ad, the origin of which is unknown, was to lure potential Viagra customers into calling a premium phone line, the charge for which is HK$1 (12.9 cents) for each six seconds. A black market for the drug has sprung up in many countries in Asia where it is not yet legal -- such as Taiwan -- and in some markets where it is approved but access to it is restricted, including Thailand. Sufferers say it is much more effective than traditional Chinese cures for impotency. In Hong Kong it is still under trial at three hospitals, and there has been no indication from the company or government when it will be available by regular prescription. ''Any sales prior to approval are illegal and my constitute counterfeit products,'' Pfizer said in a statement. Approved in the U.S. in April, Viagra has been a hit with consumers, with sales expected to top $1 billion in its first year on the market. The first impotence treatment in pill form is easier to use than the injections, insertions and vacuum tube therapies previously available. New York-based Pfizer fell 1.2 percent to 108 in New York trading yesterday. --Joshua Fellman in the Hong Kong newsroom (852) 2977-6600/bg