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Biotech / Medical : PFE (Pfizer) How high will it go? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: flickerful who wrote (4762)	8/6/1998 1:30:00 AM
From: Ibexx	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9523

Thursday August 6, 1:01 am Eastern Time Costa Rica gives Viagra the green light SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Costa Rica has added itself to the small but growing list of countries outside the United States to authorize the legal sale of the anti-impotence pill Viagra, officials said on Wednesday. After weeks of sometimes heated discussions, health officials approved the sale late on Tuesday, Health Minister Rogelio Pardo told reporters on Wednesday. He said the pill would be available in several days. Viagra, made by U.S. drugs firm Pfizer (PFE - news), is already sold in the United States, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil. Pardo said the pill could benefit up to 40 percent of the male Costa Rican population. ''This is the percentage of the population that has erectile dysfunction or impotence and they are the potential market,'' Pardo said. Controversy arose when some health officials recommended selling the pill in just 50 milligram doses, blocking the sale in its 100 milligram presentation. After protests from Pfizer, officials relented and agreed to allow the sale of both the 50 milligram and 100 milligram pills. In return, the pharmaceutical firm agreed to carry out an extensive eduction campaign among doctors and pharmacy firms outlining potential dangers and side effects of the drug.