A CHEAPER, generic version of Viagra will hit the shelves in May. The erectile dysfunction drug called Dynafil will only be available with a doctor's prescription at 30% less than the original drug, which sells at about R160 for two tablets.

Dynafil is manufactured in Iceland and will be supplied to the country by Pharma Dynamics, which specialises in generic cardiovascular medicine.

The drug will be launched in Europe in July.

Pharma Dynamic chief executive Paul Anley said it took them at least four years to have the drug registered with the Medicines Control Council (MCC).

Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company, first sold Viagra in 1998.

But later it was discovered that the pill had severe health side effects, especially for the elderly.

But Anley said a study released by the International Journal of Urology last month showed Dynafil to have more health benefits than drugs currently available on the market.

"The study showed there was a link between the treatment for erectile dysfunction with these drugs and cardiovascular conditions," he said.

Anley, who has been in the pharmaceutical field for 26 years, criticised the MCC for stifling the growth of the pharmaceutical industry by dragging out the registration of medicine.

He said his company had waited for five years to have a generic TB drug registered.

"They [MCC] don't have the capacity to handle the backlog of drugs that still need to be registered," Anley said.

"Sometimes you'd find one company making up to five applications for a single drug, which takes years to approve.

"It kills competitiveness in the market and doesn't encourage us."

He said the ripple effect of the delay was also felt by patients, who had no choice but to buy expensive branded drugs that have a similar strength to generic medicine.