Sales and Profits Booming for Sex Drugs

The multi-billion dollar market for sexual performance-enhancing drugs is red hot. Sales and profits are steadily growing which has peaked new interest from investors.

• Viagra - Global sales for the magic blue pill Viagra from Pfizer (PFE) have surged from nearly zero twelve years ago to $1.9 billion in sales in the US alone last year despite the recession which is a 7% increase from 2008.

• Cialis - Sales for competitor Cialis from Eli Lilly (LLY) were close behind Viagra to total $1.56 billion in 2009. Sales for Cialis shot up 16% in the U.S. last year and 26% outside the U.S., and Cialis actually surpassed Viagra in sales in Europe. Eli Lilly believes that by giving consumers several dosage options they were able to take market share away from Pfizer.

• Levitra - Sales for Levitra also advanced in 2009 to a total of $565 million, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recorded a 25% increase in sales for Levitra, most of which was in the U.S.

Erectile dysfunction affects nearly 30 million men in the U.S., and the problem is becoming more prevalent as the baby boomer generation ages. Younger people are also popping these pills recreationally despite the risks. Athletes who use testosterone injections for performance enhancement can suffer from impotence so they will use these drugs to counteract the side effects of the testosterone and to help build endurance.

See the Allvoices report "Sex Drugs Demand Is Red Hot Despite Recession" to read more about the demand for these sex drugs.

Source: MSN