Case Research On Pfizer's Viagra

A second medical use patent refers to the new medical use for known compounds, although a large number of countries in the world have acknowledged the patent protection for second medical use compounds, a series of questionable problem have aroused after the patent is granted. Pfizer's Viagra patent is a typical example of second medical use patent; Pfizer recycled approximately 1.7billion dollars annually from Viagra for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction. Despite Viagra's benefits to health and considerable commercial success, many companies may be hesitant to pursue similar drug development tactics for fear that the fruits of their investment will be inadequately protected from sharp-eyed competitors, actually, Pfizer's Viagra did received litigation from its competitors already in Britain, the U.S. and the Asian Pacific. This article will focus on Pfizer's law suits in Britain and the ongoing litigation in the People's Republic of China, based on a detailed discussion of the patent's written description and the claims. In Britain , the patents was held invalid for non-obvious while in China , the applicants sought for the disclosure requirements for written description, This discussion will focus the Viagra patent from its formation to the nature of the technology Pfizer seeks to protect, as well as the limitation that lies in the patent itself which led to litigation in the end, furthermore, on the basis of a detailed introduction and analysis, a view of point from the writer will be raised, among others, particularly focused on the petitioner.