Yes, Viagra is off patent in the US. The original patent was set to expire in 2020, but generic versions arrived earlier: under a 2013 settlement, Teva launched a generic in December 2017, and Pfizer released its own generic sildenafil that same year. From 2020, other manufacturers entered the market too. The result has been a major drop in price and far wider availability, as generic competition replaced Pfizer's roughly 20-year exclusivity on the brand.
Patent timelines can be confusing because of legal settlements that shifted the dates. Here is how Viagra went from a single expensive brand to a widely available generic.
A quick background
Viagra, generically sildenafil, treats erectile dysfunction (ED) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). It was first approved by the FDA in 1998 and has been marketed under the brand names Viagra (for ED) and Revatio (for PH). For about two decades it was a single, premium-priced brand — which is what made its patent expiry so significant for patients.
| Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| FDA approval | 1998 |
| Patents expired outside US | 2012 |
| Teva settlement with Pfizer | 2013 |
| First generics (Teva & Pfizer) | December 2017 |
| Broad generic entry | 2020 |
When the patent expired
The original US patent covering Viagra was set to expire in 2020. Under US patent law, drug makers get 20 years of exclusive rights, and Viagra's first patent even received a 283-day extension. Although it technically did not lose protection until 2020, legal actions altered the timeline — which is why generics appeared before that date.
Pfizer's patent maneuvering
Pfizer, which held the patent rights, saw its hold nearly run out in 2011 but managed to confirm a later patent legally. Its patents on Viagra expired outside the US in 2012. Inside the US, Pfizer extended the deadline through litigation settlements with other pharmaceutical companies — namely Mylan and Teva. This is the legal back-and-forth that shaped the generic timeline.
Teva and the first generics
Pfizer reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals in December 2013, allowing Teva to launch a generic version of Viagra even before the official 2020 expiration. This was a turning point that began shaping the post-patent market. As per the agreement and the patent timeline, other generic manufacturers were then allowed to enter from 2020, broadening availability and options for sildenafil considerably.
Pfizer's own generic and the impact on price
Pfizer also introduced its own generic version of Viagra, distinguished from the branded product by dropping the iconic blue color and sold at a significantly reduced price — effectively halving the roughly $65-a-pill retail cost. The expiration of the patent and the arrival of generics had a major market impact: prices fell sharply due to competition, and accessibility improved with more manufacturers and more affordable options. Many people who need the medication for ED or pulmonary hypertension have benefited from this shift.
On who holds the brand, read what company owns Viagra. For savings, see coupons for sildenafil and generic Viagra. And on a telehealth option, Hims sildenafil dosage and effectiveness.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Viagra off patent in the US?
- Yes. Generics arrived in December 2017 under a settlement, with broader entry from 2020.
- Who made the first generic?
- Teva launched one in December 2017, and Pfizer released its own generic sildenafil the same year.
- Why did generics appear before 2020?
- Because of litigation settlements, especially Pfizer's 2013 agreement with Teva, which allowed an earlier launch.
- Has it made Viagra cheaper?
- Yes, significantly. Generic competition cut prices sharply and improved access to sildenafil.
For the full picture of causes and treatments, return to the erectile dysfunction and male sexual health hub.