Thai version of 'Viagra' to be launched next month
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation will launch its erectile dysfunction drug "Sidagra" on October 15 at a fraction of the price of Viagra.
The treatment for the men’s disorder has already been registered with the Food and Drug Administration.
Viagra sells for about Bt200 per tablet but Sidagra will cost only Bt25 per 50-milligram tablet and Bt45 per 100mg dose, Dr Witit Artavatkul, managing director of the GPO, said yesterday.
Sales of the inexpensive product would help stem the outbreak of fake medicine, give hope to people with no access to expensive remedies and address the growing needs of the ageing society, he said.
This drug would be popular, he said.
The GPO has also improved and expanded its facilities to meet the PICS standard and raise capacity to five billion tablets in preparation for the Asean Economic Community.
The state enterprise under the Public Health Ministry was eyeing the market for diabetes, high-blood pressure and HIV/Aids medications in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, director-general of the Disease Control Department, also warned the public about dengue fever during this rainy season, as 38,500 cases and 42 deaths have already been reported from January 1-September 4.
Last week alone, five people died from this disease, he said.
