A bid to make Viagra available over the counter (OTC) in Europe has failed after regulators raised concerns that there would be too little medical oversight.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had major concerns about Viagra being available without a prescription. Their main concern was that erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early indicator of heart disease, and that by making Viagra available OTC men would simply buy the drug over the counter instead of visiting their doctor, which could delay the diagnosis of any underlying disease.
Pfizer have since made the decision to withdraw their application for the anti-impotence drug to be available in the European Union without a prescription.
Over-the-counter Viagra bid ends. BBC News. November 20th 2008.
