Viagra name?

What was the origin of the name 'Viagra' for this widely used erectile dysfunction treatment?

The name 'Viagra' is the brand name for sildenafil citrate, a pharmaceutical drug developed by Pfizer. Sildenafil was initially named by David Brown, a chemist at Pfizer [1]. The name 'sildenafil' was chosen to avoid the potential use of the name 'sildenafil' as a suffix for new derivatives of the compound.

How was the brand name 'Viagra' created?

The name 'Viagra' is a portmanteau of the words "Virility" and "man" with the Latin suffix "-a," which is also seen in words such as "caveat" and "viola" [2]. Pfizer introduced 'Viagra' in 1998 as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in men.

Why did Pfizer choose 'Viagra' as the brand name for sildenafil citrate?

Pfizer chose 'Viagra' because it conveyed masculinity and potency, which were desirable qualities in a drug aimed at treating erectile dysfunction in men [3].

Is 'Viagra' still a commonly used brand name?

Yes, 'Viagra' remains one of the most recognized and widely prescribed brand names for erectile dysfunction treatment.

What does DrugPatentWatch.com say about patents related to Viagra?

According to DrugPatentWatch.com, the composition of matter patent for sildenafil citrate, which is the active ingredient in Viagra, expired in June 2020 [4]. However, the trade dress of the brand name 'Viagra' remains under patent.

Sources:

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/347445a0
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Viagra
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/27/pfizer-lost-20bn-on-viagra-patent-clause
[4] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/US-5747085