Pfizer, Lilly Have Won the ED War; Bayer Wilts

(MoneyWatch)  Pfizer and Eli Lilly appear to have definitively won the erectile dysfunction war: their respective brands, Viagra and Cialis, both showed sales growth in Q4 2008 and for the full year. Lilly's growth was slightly faster, but it is coming off a smaller base.

Bayer's brand, Levitra, won't report Q4 sales until March 3, but its Q3 sales showed a decline and a smaller level of sales. It would be a miracle if Levitra posed a threat to its competitors in Q4.

The gains for Pfizer and Lilly come despite the downturn reducing the number of employees with health coverage. Both companies have made efforts to bolster their franchises: Lilly received approval to market a "once-a-day" version of Cialis; and Pfizer has been aggressive in calls to increase enforcement against illegal, counterfeit and fake supplies of the blue pills (among other drugs).

Here are the stats:

Eli Lilly's Cialis sales Q4: $368.8 million, up 7% FY08: $1,444.5 million, up 26% Pfizer's Viagra sales Q4 $502 million, up 1% FY08 $1,934 million, up 10% Bayer's Levitra sales Q3: $82 million, down 3.5% YTDQ308: $248 million, down 0.8%

• See previous BNET articles on erectile dysfunction:
• Pfizer to Sell Penis-Straightening Drug
• List of 56 Drugs That Should Not Be Mixed With Viagra Contains Some Surprises
• Will P&G Pharma Auction End the Company's Pursuit of "Viagra for Women"?
• Viagra Ban for Athletes (But Not for Soldiers)?
• Pfizer's Viagra Will Not Be Sold Over the Counter in Europe
• Pfizer Courting More Controversy with Viagra 'Advergaming'
• Noven and P&G Try "Viagra for Women" Despite History of Failure