Chewable version of Sildenafil Citrate call "Viagra Jet"?

Many of those who find conventional pills and capsules a bit hard to swallow will soon have no more such troubles with Viagra. Pfizer Inc., the medical giant that first developed Viagra 13 years ago, has just released the little blue pill in a brand new chewable version. For now, however, chewable Viagra is only available in Mexico.

The chewable Viagra tablet, still trademark blue, is called Viagra Jet. It was developed by Pfizer over the past four years in response to a study showing that almost 60% of Mexican Viagra users grind the tablet to make it easier to swallow. The company expresses hope that Viagra Jet will become a valuable option for not only those men, but all impotency patients.

Related Article: Mexico is giving Viagra away for free

Viagra Jet went on sale on Monday March 21st, but whether or not the drug will ever see the light of day outside of Mexico is still uncertain. Karla Fuentes, spokeswoman for Pfizer, has said that the company may later decide to introduce the drug into other Latin American countries if local laws and regulations allow. There appear to be no plans for a world-wide launch.

The timing of this launch has caused some speculation among economists as Viagra patents are due to expire in 2012. The expiring of patents will decrease Pfizer's Viagra revenue, and the company is already downsizing. Pfizer, however, denies all rumors that Viagra patents would somehow be extended by the development of Viagra Jet.

Mexico Represents 3% of Global sales!

Mexico is a very important market for Pfizer, who holds a third of the market share and is surely hoping to make important gains with this new formula. Mexico has 6 million men currently suffering from impotency problems or erectile dysfunction, although currently only 1 million are estimated to be seeking treatment. Sales of Viagra in the country were reported at $55 million in 2010, approximately 3% of global sales.

There is little wonder why Pfizer is paying special attention to Mexico, but what about the rest of the world and their need for chewable Viagra?

As it turns out, chewable Viagra is not exactly a new concept. Those who find regular pills hard to swallow can already buy one of the several generics, with the same chemical compound as Viagra: sildenafil citrate, currently available around the world as both soft chewable tablets and liquid jelly.  It is only the brand name Viagra from Pfizer that would require non-Mexicans to get involved in potentially illegal pharmaceutical imports.