The history of the drug Viagra began in 1992 in the English town of Pfizers Sandwich. It was there that a pharmacological company called Pfizer conducted clinical trials of a new drug substance - sildenafil citrate. It was assumed that the drug would increase blood flow to the heart muscle and thereby lower blood pressure. However, studies have not shown the desired result. As it turned out, sildenafil citrate has practically no effect on the heart muscle.
What was the surprise of the desperate scientists when some of the volunteers who participated in the drug trial refused to return the pills given to them and even demanded a new portion. Among them were those who tried to steal the medicine. The reason for this behavior surprised doctors - all these patients noted a significant improvement in erection as a result of taking the drug.
Without hesitation, the researchers reclassified their invention from a heart drug into a drug that improves male power. The new drug was named Viagra, which was the combination of the words "Vigor" (energy, strength) and Niagara (waterfall in North America).
The tablets were finally approved by the US Department of Food and Drug Administration on March 27, 1998. In the same year they went on sale. Within just the first week, nearly 250,000 Viagra prescriptions were filled, and by the end of the year, Pfizer's revenue was already $1 billion. Well, lucky doctors, in turn, received the Nobel Prize for the topical drug.