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Sales of Viagra in Russia soar 50% after news about suspension of shipments

Earlier, the American pharmaceutical company Viatris announced that it was suspending supplies of the drug Viagra to Russia

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Sales of Viagra rose by 50% after the announcement of the suspension of shipments of the potency-enhancing drug to Russia, an official at the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies told TASS.

The Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies is the operator of the Chestny Znak digital labeling system.

"According to the Chestny Znak national labeling system, sales of the potency-enhancing drug Viagra from February 15 to February 17, 2023 - that is, three days after the announcement of the suspension of drug shipments to Russia - increased by 50% compared to February 12-14. However, sales of the entire group of similar sildenafil-based drugs grew by only 5% during this period," the report says.

Earlier, the American pharmaceutical company Viatris announced that it was suspending supplies of the drug Viagra to Russia.

The Chestnoy Znak operator reported that there was no risk of a shortage of sildenafil-based medicines on the Russian market. Available stocks are sufficient to meet the current level of demand for eight months. According to the experts of the operator, during this time, suppliers of equivalent drugs can increase the volume of supplies and replace Viagra in Russian pharmacies with their products.

According to the Chestny Znak labeling system, in 2022, 9.4 million packages of drugs to increase potency were sold in Russia for a total of 7.3 billion rubles ($97.2 mln). Most often, drugs to increase potency were bought in St. Petersburg - 218 packs per 1,000 adult men. Also, these drugs were in high demand in the Krasnodar region, the Moscow region and the Kamchatka region (210 packs each), Moscow (205), the Tyumen region (200) and the Novosibirsk region (196).

About labeling

Russia introduced drug labeling starting July 1, 2020. According to the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare, 100% of drugs that are introduced into civilian circulation are currently labeled. In addition to medicine, dairy products, packaged water, tobacco, shoes, light industry goods, fur coats, perfume, tires and cameras are subject to labeling. From April 1, 2023, labeling for beer and low-alcohol content drinks will be introduced. The authorities are also testing labeling of biologically active additives, medical products and antiseptics.

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