Viagra sales in Malaysia deflated by smuggling

Asian Economic News, Sept 18, 2000

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 14 Kyodo

The local arm of U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., manufacturer of the hugely popular anti-impotence drug Viagra, says smuggling has hurt local sales by some 15%, the Sun daily reported Thursday.

Pfizer Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the nation's sole importer, supplier and distributor of the blue pills, has even engaged private investigators to flush out the illegal dealers, the report said.

''They obtain their pills from parts of Europe and certain Asian countries,'' Chief Executive Officer Radzmi Rahmat was quoted as saying.

The well-organized, illegal dealers are selling both genuine and fake pills at higher prices than those legally available -- ranging from 50 ringgit (about $13.16) for a 50 milligram pill to 60 ringgit for each 100 mg pill.

Pfizer sells the 50 mg and 100 mg pills for 38 ringgit and 48 ringgit, respectively.

''Through the proper channels, individuals find it hard to obtain the pills unless prescribed by a physician, but illegally, one can get them without the hassle,'' Radzmi was quoted saying.

But distinguishing between genuine and fake Viagra is difficult, the report said.

''One has to experience the effect of the pill before noticing the difference,'' Radzmi said.

Since Viagra's introduction to Malaysia in 1998, Pfizer has to date raked in over 50 million ringgit in sales.