Where is Viagra Manufactured?

Viagra Question

I know that Pfizer is a major international pharmaceutical manufacturer and has offices and factories around the world. But I was surprised recently when I heard that the company produces most of the world’s Viagra in a factory in Ireland. Is that true?

Answer

Although it’s headquartered in New York City, Pfizer Inc. is truly a global corporation with offices and manufacturing facilities scattered around the world. For several years now, Pfizer’s plant at Ringaskiddy in Ireland’s County Cork has turned out the bulk of Viagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil citrate. While Pfizer has lost its patent on the little blue pill in most major markets worldwide, its American patent will not expire until April 2020.

However, under special agreements that Pfizer negotiated with Teva Pharmaceutical and Mylan, those generic drugmakers have won the right to begin marketing generic formulations of the medication in December 2017. Because Pfizer’s U.S. patent runs until 2020, both Teva and Mylan will be required to pay licensing fees to Pfizer until the latter’s patent expires.

With six locations and more than 3,000 employees across Ireland, Pfizer is a major employer in Ireland, where it has a capital investment of roughly $7 billion.