Tadalafil consumption in Brazil.

In 2003, Tadalafil was launched in Brazil and until 2014 was exclusively marketed under the trade name Cialis®1. Patent expiration for erection dysfunction treatments like tadalafil, means loss of exclusivity, and other manufacturers may bring generics to the market2. This has resulted in price reductions, which influences the consumption. The aim of this study is to analyze the consumption of Tadalafil in Brazil after patent expiration. This observational, descriptive and retrospective study is based on the number of tablets containing 5 and 20 mg Tadalafil supplied in their similar and generic forms in Brazil, during the 24-month period following the expiration of the reference drug patent. After 24 months of patent expiration, Tadalafil consumption became 2.4 times higher, surpassing the number of 6 million tablets supplied per month. The end of commercial exclusivity and the entry of similar and especially generic drugs increased the consumption of Tadalafil.