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

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (5930)	10/12/1998 10:17:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 9523

Philippine Daily Enquirer - Viagra OKd, goes on sale in 20 days By Stella O. Gonzales October 13, 1998 VIAGRA, the ''wonder pill'' for impotent men, will be on sale in the Philippines in about 20 days. The drug, which will be available only on prescription, will be sold at P450 a tablet. The sale was approved yesterday afternoon by the Bureau of Food and Drugs. The announcement, made by Viagra manufacturer Pfizer Inc., is expected to be welcomed by Filipino men with erectile dysfunction, who had to rely on relatives or friends in the United States to supply them with the drug. Viagra costs about $10 in the United States and sells for at least P800 in the Philippine black market. The Philippines is only the third country in Asia-Pacific where the drug has been approved for sale. The other two are Thailand and Australia. Viagra was made available to the United States public last April. Pfizer officials were quick to warn the public that Viagra was not an over-the-counter drug. Only men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction could take it, and only after it had been determined that the drug was not contraindicated for their medical condition. (Viagra is not to be used by those who are taking nitrates.) There should be sexual stimulation to make the drug induce an erection on a patient. ''Viagra is not an aphrodisiac,'' Pfizer country manager Carlos Gasparian told a news conference yesterday.''It should not be used by those who do not suffer from erectile dysfunction.'' For his part, Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez said Viagra was approved by BFAD after it was found safe and effective. He said Pfizer was not marketing the product as a ''recreational drug'' and should be used only by those who could not effect and maintain an erection. ''It will be priced so high that I don't think many people who don't need it will be able to afford it. If the rich people want to spend their money, it's up to them,'' Romualdez said. ''It's not going to be part of the public health program, that's for sure.'' Asked about news reports of up to 70 deaths supposedly caused by taking Viagra, Pfizer medical director Dr. Sandra Torres said, ''There were no deaths in the clinical trials and there are no Viagra deaths among Filipinos.'' Gasparian said that the number of deaths associated with Viagra should be seen within the context of how many men over 50 years die of other causes. Viagra comes in 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets. Torres said the usual dosage is 50 mg taken one hour before sexual activity. Depending on the patient's reaction to the drug, the dosage could be increased to 100 mg or reduced to 25 mg. Viagra remains active for up to five hours. inquirer.net