egarrard
06-14-2003, 01:15 AM
Article (http://www.sunspot.net/news/sns-othernews-viagra-ct,0,5140661.story?coll=bal-features-specials) Two years ago an investor in Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. stood up at the company's annual meeting and asked a favor of Chairman Bill Wrigley Jr.
"My one request is, that being older now, that should you develop a Viagra-flavored health-care product, I would like to be among the first to know," the man said.
The audience roared with laughter. Wrigley smiled. "I think," he replied, "the possibilities are endless."
The chairman wasn't kidding.
A few months before that meeting, the Chicago company had quietly filed a patent for just such a product: a chewing gum that treats impotency. In March, Wrigley was granted U.S. government patent 6,531,114 for a gum that delivers sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient found in Viagra.
"My one request is, that being older now, that should you develop a Viagra-flavored health-care product, I would like to be among the first to know," the man said.
The audience roared with laughter. Wrigley smiled. "I think," he replied, "the possibilities are endless."
The chairman wasn't kidding.
A few months before that meeting, the Chicago company had quietly filed a patent for just such a product: a chewing gum that treats impotency. In March, Wrigley was granted U.S. government patent 6,531,114 for a gum that delivers sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient found in Viagra.