Innovation of the Year 2009 is the third edition of the contest whose aim is to promote new and innovative solutions in the Polish market. The contest is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Regional Development and FIRE Innovation Centre.

 

The key assessment criteria in the contest include: solution innovativeness, quality of products submitted, scope and type of gains already achieved which result from submitted services, projects, concepts, measures or new products launched and also unique innovative properties of the product.

 

Maxigra is the first Polish medicinal product based on sildenafil and used in erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, it is the first sildenafil-containing generic product in the European Union. The medicine is a great example of fruitful collaboration between industry and science as well as innovative thinking, from laboratory efforts to public education concerning sexual health.

 

Maxigra was developed by a team of scientists from the Pharmaceutical Institute in Warsaw, headed by Prof. Osman Achmatowicz. Owing to the collaboration with Polpharma, the scientists developed a new, alternative synthesis process for the active substance (sildenafil citrate). The resulting process is fully innovative and quite unlike other methods used by the other market players. Based on the process, the erection support medicine could be launched.

 

Maxigra has currently 60% market share among products used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, including OTC drugs and dietary supplements.[1]

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