Swiss authorities allege that three manufacturers of male impotence drugs, Pfizer Inc, Eli Lilly and Co, Bayer AG, are operating an erection drug cartel.

The Swiss Competition Commission has charged the three companies and their distributors with price fixing. Olivier Schaller, a commission spokesman said the companies engaged in am unlawful agreement to maintain a “recommended public selling price” for the medications Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

According to Mr. Schaller, the selling price was followed by the pharmaceutical companies, drug stores and doctors. The commission gave the three firms 20 days to answer before it decides whether it will follow the panel’s recommendation to impose penalties on the three drug firms or ban them from suggesting prices for erection dysfunction medication.

The Eli Lilly spokeswoman said the company is confident it obeyed Swiss regulations, while the spokesmen of Pfizer and Bayer declined to comment on the findings of the commission because it had no time yet to study the panel’s claims.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Impotence Drugs.