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New stimulant drug approved

DUBAI - Competition has gone up among the pharmaceutical companies dealing in drugs designed to treat sexual dysfunction patients and those which serve as sexual stimulant.

The latest trend emerged in the UAE markets following the decision of the Ministry of Health to register the new `Levitra' drug , which was put on sale last week.

`Levitra', manufactured by the pharmaceutical major Bayer of Germany and marketed by Glaxo SmithKline, is the fifth medicine to enter the field, which includes Viagra and Cialis.

The Arabic version of the drug is known as Snafi. Levitra is an orange-coloured pill having the same function of Viagra. Once the pill is swallowed, it infiltrates into the blood and obstructs the PDE-5 enzyme, which increases the flow of blood to some parts of the body.

The price of a can containing five Levitra pills costs Dh180, in comparison to Viagra, which costs the same amount for a can containing four pills.

The new pills may pose threat to the Viagra, which has been dominating the market since it was unveiled.

Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, has reported huge profits since the production of the drug commenced.

The sale of the drug has touched $ 9 billion over the last five years, it was reported.