Pfizer’s Viagra reported stronger-than-expected Q3 global sales, displaying a 29% increase between Q2 and Q3 2020 despite intense generic competition from over 500 erectile dysfunction drugs marketed globally, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Viagra gained an additional $27m in global sales between 2020 Q2 and Q3, reporting $121m in Q3.

Quentin Horgan at GlobalData comments: “This increase in Viagra sales is surprising since it lost exclusivity within the European market in 2013 and has since reported a 35% year-on-year average decrease in global sales. In addition, in April of this year, it lost its market exclusivity for the US market.”

This surprising growth in Q3 sales was driven primarily by larger-than-anticipated sales in China due to its significant COVID-19 recovery. This was coupled with strong sales in other international markets, outside of the three major markets of the EU, US, and Japan, which accounted for 79% of Viagra’s Q3 sales.

Horgan concludes, “Viagra’s increase in 2020 Q3 sales is a significant boost in revenue for Pfizer from one of its most well-known drugs, yet it will not stop Viagra’s sales erosion from the many generics available, which include a Teva generic, sildenafil citrate, and Pfizer’s Viagra authorized generic.”

This year is predicted to be the lowest recorded sales year to date for Viagra.