The first Arab-made drug for male impotence, believed to be a serious rival to the U.S.-made Viagra, is expected to hit the UAE market shortly, a health official said yesterday.

Snafi is being produced by Saudi company Spimaco, which claims its drug has more effective results than any other product of its kind.

"Snafi is the first Arab drug against male impotence to enter the GCC market," said Dr Easa Bin Jakka Al Mansouri, director of the Drug Control Department at the Ministry of Health. "It has been already registered by the GCC Central Department for Drug Registration and will soon be registered also in the UAE."

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Al Mansouri said the drug is currently under registration at the Pricing Committee of the Ministry of Health. He said after the price is set, a ministerial decree will open the way to its marketing.

"I believe the producers are gearing up to start distribution by next September," he said.

Dr Al Mansouri said that Snafi is the fourth drug against impotence to be marketed in the UAE, after Viagra, Uprima and Cialis.

The Saudi manufacturer is now claiming that Snafi provides a more effective treatment and is longer lasting than the famous Viagra.

According to Spimaco, the new drug is immediately effective in eight out of every ten users. The company conducted 16 clinical tests involving 3,250 men who were suffering from sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction.

About 81 per cent of the patients who took the drug said they felt better. Its tests also showed the drug produces the desired effect within 30 minutes and could last for nearly 24 hours.

Spimaco also reported that according to clinical studies Snafi has no adverse side effects on vision or the heart.

Nevertheless, Dr Al Mansouri said Snafi as well as the other anti-impotence drugs should always be taken under the supervision of a specialist and not through over-the-counter sales. "Patients should undertake clinical tests and seek the counselling of a specialist before using the drug, since any misuse may be life threatening," he said.

The drug has already been introduced in four GCC states, except Oman. The four-pill pack is being sold in the Saudi Arabian market for SR145.5 and each pill contains 20mg.

Dr Abdullah Abdul Qader, director general of the Saudi Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, clarified Spimaco produces both Cialis and its twin Snafi which both contain Tadalafil. The two drugs are therefore identical, carrying only a different name.

He said Spimaco is expected to dominate 60 per cent of the sales of anti-impotence drugs in Saudi markets during the current year.