Pfizer, Allergan deal: Viagra maker's ten most profitable drugs

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Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, and Allergan, the maker of Botox, have agreed a merger deal worth $160 billion that will create the world’s biggest drugmaker.

The big draw for Pfizer, the bigger of the two, is not Botox, but Allergan’s tax domicile in Ireland. That means soon Allergan will pay Ireland’s 12.5 per cent of corporation tax instead of the 35 per cent that it would have to pay in the US.

Lowest tax means Pfizer will get to keep more of the revenue it makes from prescription drugs. By far its biggest earner, Lyrica brought home $5.17 billion in revenue in 2014. Viagra is sixth on the list, after drugs treating everything from pneumonia to arthritis:

1. Lyrica

An anti-epileptic drug that works by slowing down implulses in the brain that cause seizures. It is also used to treat pain from nerve damage in epileptics and herpes zoster. It has been associated with suicidal thoughts.

2. Prevnar

A family of drugs used to treat pneumonia in children, given as a series of injections.

3. Enbrel

Used to treat arthritis and other joint pain. Some people using Enbrel have developed a rare fast-growing type of cancer.

4. Celebrex

An anti-infammatory drug used to treat arthritis and period pain. Celebrex can increase the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.

5. Lipitor

Lipitor reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood and increases levels of “good” cholesterol.

6. Viagra

Viagra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to certain parts of the body. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

7. Zyvox

Zyvox is an antibiotic that is used to fight bacteria in the body in patients with pneumonia, skin infections and infections that are resistant to other antibiotics.

8. Sutent

A cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. It is used to treat certain types of advanced of progressive tumours of the digestive system, the pancreas, or the kidneys.

9. Norvasc

Belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It relaxes the blood vessels and improves blood flow. Norvasc is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain and other conditions.

10. Premarin

A vaginal cream used to treat the symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, irritation, burning and painful sexual intercourse.