Advertisement for Viagra has been in a slump – and they may skip this NFL season altogether. The blue pill was first introduced almost 20 years ago, quickly becoming something akin to a cultural icon. Its popularity was further galvanized by a continuous stream of advertisements and marketing.
Viagra, however, is losing its patent exclusivity. It means that the blue pill will no longer be monopolized. Viagra also hasn’t aired a national TV ad since May 15, 2017, with executives noting that the brand is experiencing a slump.
Viagra: The Blue Pill
Viagra is used to treat impotence, erectile dysfunction, and sexual function problems. Typically coming in its iconic blue pill form-factor, Viagra has about 30 million American men using it as an aid. It’s been a profitable pill, with the parent company reeling in north of $1 billion a year.
Cialis and Viagra totaled more than $50 million on NFL advertising last year, with its absence being felt by marketers and networks. Some speculate that it may be because the NFL isn’t pulling the same ratings as it used to, but it’s due to the parent company losing exclusive rights to the patent. It’s interesting to note that Cialis is still rotating on TV adverts, but hasn’t bought any NFL air time either. Instead, it will air adverts on the U.S open golf tournaments, Major League Baseball networks, and NASCAR. Ad experts note that the iconic ads were once noted as being one of NFL’s top 40 highest spending advertisements.
The Generic Form Comes To Light
By losing its patent, there will be a launch of a generic form of Viagra that will be more accessible and affordable. Teva Pharmaceuticals is a multinational company that will release a cheaper variant of Viagra in December 2017. Once the generic form of Viagra is available, the parent brand will most likely lose its clout in direct consumer advertising. At that point, any advertising will only boost sales of the generic form of Viagra.