This week, OTCs are in Action in Poland, where Adamed is launching MaxOn Active (sildenafil 25mg, the active ingredient in Pfizer’s Viagra), the second market for legitimate OTC access to erectile dysfunction drugs. The first de facto OTC market for the ED category was New Zealand, where Douglas Pharma switched Silvasta in October 2014.
Of course, Rx drugs and dietary supplements for ED can be quite easily available “under-the-counter” (pharmacists dispensing without a prescription) or online in many markets around the world. However, some of these dietary supplement products can have serious and even deadly side-effects, and many feature unsafe ingredients from unscrupulous marketers looking to meet the product demand. Additionally, in many Emerging Markets, pharmacists are often the only healthcare providers accessible to consumers, so the “under-the-counter” trade is widely accepted.
In Poland, where MaxOn is available only in pharmacies, men are asked to take a test to determine safe use of the OTC when they purchase a 2-count pack for about $10.00. It’s estimated that about 1.7mn men in Poland experience ED, so OTC competitors will surely be keeping an eye on this first European OTC ED market.
It’s intriguing that the test to ensure consumer compliance is a like a first KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid). The test asks consumers several questions regarding their use of drugs and about previous diseases. A man will have three possible answers to each question: yes, I don’t know or no. If the question is marked “yes” or “don’t know”, the patient should consult the doctor about use of the medicine.
Click the link below to see how men will self-test for MaxOn Active:
Nicholas Hall Company Blog 