More erectile dysfunction drugs to be released

By Yun Suh-young

The generic drug market will face fiercer competition as the Korea Food and Drugs Administration (KFDA) accepted the generic drugs with only “sildenafil” to be equivalent to Viagra.

Until now, the KFDA only accepted drugs with “sildenafil citrate” substance to be considered the same as Viagra, the drug for erectile dysfunction.

The measure comes as more companies applied for approval of the drugs without the citrate substance to be a replacement for Viagra.

Following the announcement of the KFDA, six of the pharmaceutical companies immediately released generic drugs. About 20 more drugs without the citrate substance will likely be released.

The competitive advantage of the generic drugs is that they are much cheaper than the original and are in various dosage forms.

There are drugs that can be taken without water by melting it in the mouth or chewing the substance.

The pharmaceutical industry expects more customers to access the generic drugs as the sildenafil ingredient which provides the medicinal effect is included and only the sour tasting substance citrate has been removed.