Pfizer loses battle for Chinese name for Viagra

Beijing: US drug maker Pfizer Inc has failed in its attempt to win the right to a popular Chinese translation of its sexual dysfunction drug Viagra.

Pfizer had filed a suit with the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court to be entitled to the use of the brand name "Wei Ge".

However, the court said that the fact that "Wei Ge" was a commonly used Chinese translation for Viagra did not in itself give Pfizer the right to the brand name in China.

The court ruled that Chinese anti-impotency drug firm Guangzhou Welman, which had registered the brand name "Wei Ge" with the local authorities, would be allowed to keep the name.

Pfizer was awarded the patent for Viagra in China in 2003 but has been a frequent target of what it has called "local copycats". Chinese drug makers all over the country less expensive versions of Viagra.