Latest Viagra Price Increase Translates to More Cialis Sales and a Still-improving Bottom Line for AccessRx, an Online Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer this week announced the largest price increase ever (11 percent) for its popular erectile dysfunction (E.D.) drug Viagra. However, previous buying trends after E.D. drug price increases indicate that online sales of authentic, FDA-approved E.D. medications will continue to escalate at AccessRx.com.

The online pharmacy said one factor that helps offset Viagra’s 20-percent cost increase over the last eight months is the fact that Cialis has consistently been gaining market share from Viagra in recent years, according to the drug manufacturers’ annual reports.

In fact, when examining revenues for E.D. drugs on AccessRx.com, an increase in sales revenue for Cialis (29 percent increase in Q3/Q4 of 2008 compared to Q1/Q2 of 2008 alone) has produced substantially more revenue than necessary to make up for the decrease in Viagra sales revenue, according to the online pharmacy.

“Although the price of Viagra has ballooned 20 percent since May, we’re confident that our sales of E.D. medications will continue to increase with the help of Cialis,” said Richard Bernstein, marketing director for AccessRx.com. “Consumers are undaunted by rising costs for products that they apparently consider effective and irreplaceable, even in one of the worst economies of our time.”

Before this latest price increase, Viagra’s wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) increased 9% in May. Although the WAC for Cialis increased 7% in August, Bernstein said, male consumers at AccessRx.com continue to show their unwillingness to skimp on pleasure in the bedroom.

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are the three FDA-approved medications for E.D., although Levitra trails far behind the others in U.S. and worldwide sales, according to the manufacturers. 

“Prices for E.D. medications have gone up over the last 8 months,” Bernstein said. “However, pricing for E.D. drugs remains competitive online – especially at AccessRx.com. Many customers are willing to pay a little extra for added convenience.”

Research compiled by AccessRx, available upon request, shows that E.D. medications ordered online at AccessRx.com, versus those obtained through CVS pharmacies (Fred Meyer in Alaska) in the three largest cities in all 50 U.S. states, cost an average of only $20 more per order.

Requests for prescriptions at AccessRx are reviewed by a physician licensed and located in the U.S. Online customers must first fill out a thorough health/medical questionnaire. Prescriptions are filled by licensed U.S. pharmacists and then shipped to the patient.