| Cialis
makes gains on Viagra
August 18,
2003
Lilly Icos LLC, the joint venture
between Icos Corp. of Bothell and Eli Lilly
and Co., said its erectile
dysfunction treatment Cialis has gained
market share against leader Viagra
and another ED drug marketed under the name
Levitra.
In Germany, for example -- one
of the largest markets in which all three are
approved -- Cialis in June held a 30 percent
share to Viagra's 56 percent and Levitra's 14
percent. The May market share of Cialis was
29 percent. Lilly Icos said the gain came from
Viagra's share, which fell from 57 percent.
Worldwide sales of Cialis totaled
$58.9 million for the first six months of 2003,
including $38.5 million of sales in the European
Union and $20.4 million of sales elsewhere,
mainly in Australia and Brazil.
Cialis is currently under review
by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, and the company
expects it to be approved for sale here by the
end of the year. Levitra could be approved as
early as this month, and so would be the first
to market of the two Viagra challengers.
In Europe, Cialis reached the
market in February, while Levitra gained approval
in May.
While the increasing market share
is a positive, it appears too early to tell
if the gains will be held. Paul Latta, an analyst
with McAdams Wright Ragen Inc. in Seattle, noted
that the numbers being reported represent shipments
to wholesalers, and may not accurately track
usage by patients.
"Icos management has commented
that many patients may go through a period of
sampling all three before settling on a favorite,"
Latta said in a note to investors. "Nevertheless,
increases in market share are always better
than decreases."
© 2003 American City Business Journals
Inc.
source:-http://seattle.bizjournals.com
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