After more than a month of its launch, Pfizer's erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra is yet to record any worthwhile sales in Karnataka market, according to sources in the pharmacy trade. The main reasons for the poor response is the high price of the product and the availability of cheaper brands from Cipla, Torrent, Ranbaxy, Unichem, Lupin, Sun Pharma and Zydus Cadila.

Last month, since its launch in India, 20 per cent out of 3,000 chemists in Bangalore reported sales of just five tablets priced at Rs 594 each for 100 mg and Rs 463 per 50mg.

According to V Hari Krishnan, president, Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association, Viagra has just not taken off, pricing being the biggest deterrent. It will lose its presence on our shelves amidst a competitive environment for impotency drugs, he added.

According to sources in the industry, Pfizer has priced the product in India on par with its global market price. There is absolutely no chance for the drug to succeed in the state, they averred.

In Bangalore, out of the 3,000 chemists in the city only 20 per cent are stocking the drug which was introduced in India last month. This is because maximum numbers of pharmacy outlets are located in middle class localities.

The 20 per cent of outlets that stocked Viagra stated that sales were insignificant. The 15,000 chemists across the state which are in 5the districts stated that Pfizer did not address the district markets because they were confident Viagra will not move. Not only that the patients with such conditions in districts would opt for herbal drugs.

According to a section of gynaecologists, who were prescribing drugs for erectile dysfunction to their male patients, the Indian version from Sun Pharma and others are popular because they are effective. The high cost and poor affordability did not allow them to recommend Viagra.