Pfizer, the major pharmaceutical company, owns Viagra. It developed the active ingredient sildenafil — originally for cardiovascular disease — filed a patent for its use in erectile dysfunction (ED) in 1994, and held exclusive rights to the brand for almost 20 years. Even after the patent expired (around 2019-2020) and generics entered the market, Pfizer kept its place by launching its own generic sildenafil and striking telehealth supply deals. Viagra remains one of the most recognizable products in the pharmaceutical world.
The story of who owns Viagra is really the story of Pfizer's long stewardship of a blockbuster drug — and how it adapted when exclusivity ended.
Pfizer, the owner
Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company, is the owner of the world-renowned ED drug Viagra. The product generated roughly $500 million in revenue in 2019, underlining its significant market impact. For decades it has been one of Pfizer's flagship brands and a household name.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Owner | Pfizer |
| Patent filed (ED use) | 1994 |
| Patent published / expired | 2002 / 2019 |
| Teva generic settlement | 2013 |
| Pfizer's own generic | December 2017 |
From heart drug to Viagra
The active ingredient, sildenafil, was initially developed to treat cardiovascular disease. In the US, Pfizer received two patents for it: one for cardiovascular use, marketed as Revatio, and another for ED, marketed as Viagra. Pfizer filed the ED patent in 1994, marking the start of a hugely successful journey for the product. The famous "accidental discovery" of its effect on erections turned a heart drug into a global brand.
Two decades of exclusivity
The patent for sildenafil's use in ED was published in 2002 and expired in 2019. For nearly 20 years, Pfizer had exclusive rights to the brand-name ED drug Viagra, allowing it to establish the product as the leading treatment for erectile dysfunction. This long exclusivity is a big part of why the Viagra name became so dominant.
The shift to generics
In 2013, Pfizer reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals allowing Teva to market a generic version, signaling the end of Pfizer's exclusive grip. After its rights expired, Pfizer announced its own generic Viagra in the US in December 2017, sold at half the list price of branded Viagra — a little over $30 per pill. The introduction of generics was made possible by FDA approval, and the market for generic sildenafil now includes several manufacturers, including seven based in India approved to sell it in the US.
How Pfizer stayed in the market
Pfizer's strategy for its generic Viagra centered on a significant price cut, halving the list price to keep the drug accessible and competitive. The company's Upjohn subsidiary was involved too, with Viagra-related products transferred to Viatris Specialty LLC. Pfizer also moved into telehealth, reaching an exclusive supply deal with telehealth provider Roman (Ro) for access to its generic Viagra — making the drug more accessible to patients and solidifying Pfizer's place in the ED treatment market even after losing exclusivity.
On the patent timeline, read is Viagra off patent in the US. For savings, see coupons for sildenafil and generic Viagra. And on a telehealth option, Hims sildenafil dosage and effectiveness.
Frequently asked questions
- What company owns Viagra?
- Pfizer, which developed sildenafil, patented its ED use in 1994 and held the brand for almost 20 years.
- Was Viagra originally a heart drug?
- Yes. Sildenafil was first developed for cardiovascular disease; Pfizer also markets it as Revatio for pulmonary hypertension.
- Does Pfizer still sell Viagra after generics?
- Yes. It launched its own generic in 2017 at about half the price and struck telehealth supply deals to stay competitive.
- Who else makes generic sildenafil?
- Several manufacturers, including seven based in India, are approved to market generic sildenafil in the US.
For the full picture of causes and treatments, return to the erectile dysfunction and male sexual health hub.