Of possibly major significance to phramaspam, the Chinese government apparently has revoked Pfizer's Viagra patent so their own companies can make it locally:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040805/hl_afp/china_health_viagra_040805111759

Thu Aug 5, 7:17 AM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese pharmaceutical makers are planning to jointly produce a local variant of Viagra after Pfizer Inc of the US lost its patent protection in China for the popular drug.

Without citing a source, state media reported Wednesday the 17 pharmaceutical companies, headed by Tonghua Hongtaomao Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. from northeastern China, are hoping to set up a joint-stock company to make an erectile dysfunction drug that would cost only half the price of Viagra.

This may create new incentives for and types of pill spams.

Jeff C.