“Pfizer is exploring a number of opportunities to expand access to medications via reclassification to non-prescription status,” a spokesperson for the company told the <strong><em>Medical Independent</em></strong> (<strong><em>MI</em></strong>).
In the UK, Viagra Connect tablets are being reclassified as a non-prescription pharmacy medicine for the treatment of the symptoms of ED in men aged 18 years and over.
“The benefits of making Viagra Connect available to men with ED are not limited to the UK market and we are exploring other markets where this may be possible,” a Pfizer spokesperson told <strong><em>MI</em></strong> when asked whether it is considering making an application for Viagra to be reclassified in Ireland.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) told <strong><em>MI</em></strong> that it is not in a position to say whether it has received any application to change the current prescription-only classification of sildenafil to make it available OTC “due to commercial sensitivities”.
“The HPRA welcomes applications for innovative reclassifications, and provides guidance on its website,” the HPRA spokesperson told <strong><em>MI</em></strong>.
Counterfeit and illegal ED drugs are among the most common detained medicinal products by the HPRA and Customs every year and supporters of reclassifying sildenafil say making it available OTC could help alleviate the issue.
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