Viagra is the world leader in erectile dysfunction. Worldwide sales in 2011 were reported to be US$2 billion.

The advent of generics for the drug is expected to bring about huge savings for healthcare systems across Europe. In the UK, in 2012 alone, 2.3 million prescriptions were written for the drug, costing the National Health Service GBP 40 million. Generics are typically 20–90% less expensive than the brand-name originator drug.

Generics giants Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) and Actavis already announced on 24 June 2013 the launch of their generic versions of sildenafil. Actavis has launched its generic sildenafil in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. Actavis has also already launched the product in the patent-free markets of Bulgaria, Iceland and Malta. Teva has launched its generic version in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands and UK. Teva has already launched the product in Spain, Canada and certain other countries.

The US patent for Viagra does not run out until 2020 and although Actavis, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Apotex, Mylan and Teva have all applied to FDA to market generics sildenafil, no generics have yet been allowed on the market in the US. Teva has, however, finally managed to launch a generic version in Canada several months ago following a positive ruling after five years of legal proceedings.

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