Erectile Dysfunction Market Analysis: Facts You Dind’t Know About The Pharmaceutical Industry

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a serious sexual issue that affects millions of men. As a result, a huge pharmaceutical market has come in existence to address the demand. This market is primarily aimed at helping men regain their erection, regardless of the cause of ED.

The Big Players

An increase in the world’s older population, as well as higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is driving the demand for ED medications up, a TMR report suggests.

Currently, this market features three major players – Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. While a few other options do exist, most urologists will prescribe one of these three ED medications to their patients.

The market share of Viagra is 45 percent – the largest one on the erectile dysfunction medications market. The US is the main country that’s driving the demand for the respective product up and will continue doing so until 2020. Other ED solutions tend to be more popular in European countries.

During the same time period, Cialis ranked second on the global market. Its market share generated revenue of 1,926.8 million dollars in 2013. The US erectile dysfunction drugs market alone is set at 2,098.4 million dollars on an annual basis – a value that determines the immense scope of the problem and the need for a solution.

A Deeper Look At Viagra

By far, Viagra is the ED leader in the US. In 2012 alone, there were more than eight million prescriptions for Viagra written and they led to sales exceeding two billion dollars in volume, CNN reported.

The top Pfeizer drug has been growing in popularity ever since the 1990s. In 1998, FDA approved Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the US. During that year alone, urologists wrote more than 40,000 prescriptions for the drug.

Things became even better for the little blue pill in 2011. A federal judge extended the US pattern for Viagra held by Pfeizer. This extension meant that generic ED drug brands could not come to the US until 2019.

This is the main reason why Viagra holds the leading position on the US market. Chances are that a major shift will be experienced in 2019 when the patent will expire. Until then, the blue pill is expected to continue being leader in the US. Research from the UK reveals similar results and suggests that Viagra is an incredibly popular drug in the country, as well.

The Dark Side Of The Blue Pill

While prescriptions for Viagra are the ones that legally drive the market up, there’s been an increase in the so-called recreational Viagra use among younger men. Recreational use means that men aren’t suffering from ED, they’re simply taking Viagra in an attempt to strengthen their erections.

The Archive of Sexual Behavior carried out an extensive cross-sectional study involving 1,914 college men. Of these young men, four percent reported having used an ED drug recreationally. What’s even more important, 1.4 percent reported current ED use.

Very often, the use of erectile dysfunction drugs was accompanied by the use of an illegal drug. Researchers concluded that these two occurrences increased the likelihood of men engaging in risky sexual behaviors like unprotected sex.

There’s one more way in which ED drugs like Viagra can have a negative impact on young men. Many men have already become dependent on such medications to achieve an erection and ensure their performance during sex.

Viagra and other ED drugs help shy guys and men who don’t have a lot of experience cope with performance anxiety. The drugs create a fake sense of sexual prowess. Very soon, young men find out they’re incapable of getting and maintaining an erection without their Viagra or Cialis. As a result, they become dependent on the drug in order to achieve a healthy sexual response.

This is the main reason why the use of ED medications should be supervised by a medical professional. While ED medications have proved to be life-changing for so many guys, they can also lead to problems.

Serious Changes Coming To The Market

Researchers believe that the ED market will experience some massive change by 2019. By then, the demand for ED medications is projected to decrease rapidly.

The growing threat of counterfeit drugs is expected to lead to a market backlash in the years to come. According to researchers, the market was valued at 4.3 billion dollars in 2012. The figure is expected to go down to 3.4 billion dollars by the end of 2019. The decrease is a serious one – 4.5 percent over the course of seven years.

Needless to say, the Pfeizer patent expiration in the US is expected to play a major role in the market shift.

Viagra will remain a leader, regardless of the loss of exclusivity. It’s projected to still be the biggest and most popular ED drug in 2020. The popularity of this drug, as well as the positions of Cialis and Levitra are expected to decline, however.

What’s The Alternative?

As you can see, the ED market is a billion-dollar industry that’s regulated by strict rules and patents. The expected shrinkage in the market’s value, however, is indicative of the ways in which buyer attitudes are changing.

More and more people are becoming aware of natural alternatives to pharmaceutical products. More and more men are expected to look for a natural option when it comes to treating mild and moderate ED.

A natural option does exist. In fact, the male enhancement supplements market is already diversified enough. Numerous products combine ingredients capable of addressing ED in an effective way. These ingredients include vasodilators, herbal extracts that boost nitric oxide production and ingredients acting in a manner similar to Viagra (epimedium).

As long as ED isn’t caused by an underlying medical condition, a natural product can be used for the effective strengthening of the erectile response. Sufficient numbers of online reviews and testimonials provide information about the success different men have had with such products.

This website is also dedicated to outlining viable alternatives and giving men options. If you go through the articles, you’ll find numerous male enhancement supplement reviews. These product analyses look at both the good and the bad, helping buyers reach adequate decisions on their own.