Modern Era · North America · Science

1998

Viagra approved

September 1998

The FDA approved a blue pill called sildenafil, marketed by Pfizer as Viagra, for erectile dysfunction. It had been discovered by accident during heart medication trials. Within months it was a cultural phenomenon, the subject of jokes, prescriptions, and spam emails for decades. Pharmaceuticals had entered a new intimate territory.

More from 1998 Modern Era

In context

Also in 1998 (5 other events on record)

Google founded · North America · Technology
Good Friday Agreement · Europe · Politics
India and Pakistan test nuclear weapons · South Asia · War
US embassy bombings in East Africa · Africa · War
Clinton impeached · North America · Politics

Before and after in North America

Before: July 4, 1997: Mars Pathfinder lands
After: April 20, 1999: Columbine High School shooting

Before and after in Science

Before: July 4, 1997: Mars Pathfinder lands
After: October 12, 1999: World population reaches six billion

Era

Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.