The New Zealand patent for erectile dysfunction medication Viagra expires in June, allowing other companies to manufacture and sell generic versions of the pill.
Viagra manufacturer Pfizer will be first off the block though, with Avigra – which will sell at half the price of Viagra.
“Because Viagra still remains patented throughout most of the world, by launching a second brand in a generic market it allows us to provide the same quality of medicine as Viagra at a more competitive price,” says the company's Frances Benge.
"The recommended retail cost of Avigra is around $8 per tablet, almost half the price of Viagra, making it more affordable and allowing more men to access treatment for a healthier sex life."
Avigra is made of the same stuff as Viagra, which the company says will still be sold, for those who'd prefer to remain with the brand they trust.
3 News