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

To: BigKNY3 who wrote (5561)	9/16/1998 8:51:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 9523

Ireland: Inclusion of Viagra in GMS to be examined Irish Times, September 16 1998 By Chris Dooley An expert committee is to examine whether the anti-impotence drug, Viagra, which was cleared yesterday for sale throughout the EU, should be made available free to medical-card holders. The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, announced the establishment of the committee after the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Viagra said it would be applying immediately to have it included in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. If the drug is covered by the State's various drugs schemes, the cost to the Exchequer could reach œ20 million a year, the Minister said. He said the committee would monitor the demand for the drug, the prescribing pattern of doctors, the results obtained and any problems with the control of the drug. Pfizer, which makes the drug for worldwide distribution at its plant in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, said it would be available in the Republic on prescription from the end of the month. But Mr Cowen said more information was needed before any decision could be made on including Viagra in the GMS scheme or reimbursing users under any of the community drugs schemes. He said it was very difficult to estimate the potential cost to the State, but international figures indicated a cost of between œ7 million and œ20 million. He was also concerned the drug might be seen as a "lifestyle" or "recreational" drug by some people. However, at a press conference in Dublin announcing the availability of the drug in the Republic, Pfizer denied it had any recreational benefits. Dr Tony Whitehead, the company's medical director for Ireland and Britain, said the drug, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), had no effect on sexual desire. The company said the drug was designed to help those with ED and would have no beneficial effect for non-sufferers. He added that the drug, which improves blood flow to the penis, had been shown to restore sexual function in most men, no matter what was the cause of their ED. Pfizer has set a trade price for the drug in the Republic of œ5.56 per 50mg tablet, but the retail price is likely to be about œ9. Welcoming the "cautious approach" taken by Mr Cowen, a Fine Gael spokesman said account had to be taken of the potential abuse of the drug, and its use would have to be monitored closely. Ms Roisin Shortall, Labour's health spokeswoman, said the cost of the drug to the GMS scheme would have to be limited. But she added that sexual dysfunction was a serious problem, and medical card holders were entitled to an early decision. The European Commission's formal approval yesterday for the sale of Viagra followed approval of the drug by the EU's standing committee on medicines three weeks ago. The committee, made up of expert representatives of the member-states, had endorsed the product with the proviso that certain labelling changes be made: a warning that the drug could cause "prolonged and painful" arousal and that a doctor should be consulted if this lasted more than four hours. An explanatory note will also warn of possible side-effects including headaches, hot flushes, indigestion, panic attacks, blocked noses and problems with vision. The committee made it clear that Viagra is not intended for women and must not be administered to patients under 18 or to those with severe heart or liver problems or low blood pressure. The British Health Secretary, Mr Frank Dobson, announced the government's decision to temporarily ban Viagra earlier this week amid fears that the National Health Service will not be able to afford the drug. The drug will be available by private prescription for those who can afford it, but NHS patients may have to wait for many months to receive the drug. Ms Ann Craig, a spokeswoman for the Impotency Association, said the organisation had received many calls from people who believed the drug had been banned indefinitely: "A lot have been waiting patiently for the decision. They are diabetic or suffering from some related ailment, and I am sure they will be fed up that it will be available in Europe and not here."

To: BigKNY3 who wrote (5561)	9/16/1998 9:30:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9523

Viagrawill be available in Swedish drug stores as early as next week. DAGENS NYHETER, Sweden STOCKHOLM, Sept 16 (Reuters)

To: BigKNY3 who wrote (5561)	9/16/1998 11:25:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 9523

Pay your own way, Europe tells millions of sufferers By Toby Helm, Julian Nundy, Tim Brown and Bruce Johnston The Telegraph, 16 September 1998 Makers refuse to lower price of 'love drug' SOON after Martin Bangemann, the Brussels commissioner for industry, had cleared Viagra for sale across the EU yesterday, several governments warned impotence sufferers that they, and not the state, would have to foot the bills. In Germany, Horst Seehofer, the health minister, said he was against Viagra being paid for by the state or public health insurance. German officials in Brussels explained that Viagra was a "lifestyle" drug, rather than "therapeutic". There are said to be 7.5 million men in Germany who suffer from potency problems which require treatment. Pfizer, the producers of Viagra, have said they expect it to be available in German chemists' shops from Oct 1. It will cost almost œ9 for one pill. Health ministries in Italy and Denmark took a similar line. Portuguese officials said the drug would be available on prescription, but that the state would not offset the cost to patients. There was better news for impotence sufferers in Austria, however. A health ministry spokesman said the cost would be covered by social security. Yesterday's formal clearance is likely to be followed by approval to market Viagra in other countries with close ties to the EU. Hungary is expected to make it available by the end of the year. Viagra has been available in at least a dozen non-EU countries since May. Switzerland authorised its sale on June 22, with Bulgaria following suit on Sept 2. It is also available on prescription in Thailand. The drug went back on sale in Israel on July 14 after being banned in May following the death of several people in the United States. In Latin America, Brazil authorised the sale of Viagra on June 1, followed by Costa Rica on Aug 19 and Uruguay on Aug 21. The drug is also currently available in Peru, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and is due to go on sale in Chile later this month. France Viagra made a brief entry into France before legalisation when a restaurant in the Alps advertised dishes cooked in a Viagra sauce. The restaurant, in Thonon-les-Bains, obtained its supplies from Switzerland. After a brief burst of publicity last month, local authorities obliged the restaurant to withdraw its culinary novelty. Viagra will be available in France only on prescription and at the patient's expense. The authorities had envisaged limiting the right to prescribe to urologists, psychiatrists and other specialists but, since the costs (œ6 per tablet) will not be paid for by the state, all doctors will be allowed to prescribe it. Spain Pfizer estimate initial sales will be two tablets a week each bought by 150,000 men. The health ministry insists that no price has been fixed but a subsidised price of œ4 per pill for social security claimants is expected when it is released on prescription in late October. People who do not subscribe to social security will have to pay œ12. Italy The health authority said yesterday it would decide whether to allow Viagra to be sold only after Pfizer requested a licence to do so. But if, as expected, it was granted, the drug is unlikely to go on sale much before Christmas, and almost certainly will not be subsidised by the national health, which is already proving too much of a burden on Italy's deficit. Not only would a prescription be required, but it would have to be given by a specialist doctor, and "only in cases of impotency". A minsitry spokesman said: "This is not some kind of love potion after all." telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000647321007942&rtmo=flooNMls&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/98/9/16/nvia116.html