From small beginnings Cialis was developed by a Washington state based biotech company called ICOS and was designed to treat  impotence or erectile dysfunction in men. When Cialis was being developed the issue of erectile dysfunction was coming to the forefront of medical science and more and more was being discovered about this long ignored problem in men.

The company was founded in the United States in 1990 and soon became a viable company.  Currently there are approximately sixty-five original staff members still with ICOS which now has over 675 employees. ICOS was conducting research to produce a drug that would mean all men and women could enjoy sexual activity through drug enhancement caused by erection difficulties in men suffering impotence.

Unlike its predecessor Viagra, produced and marketed by Pfizer, Cialis allows for a longer window of opportunity for users. ICOS developed Cialis the effect of which lasts up to 36 hours. By using their expertise in molecular, cellular and structural biology, ICOS improved an already existing drug. Cialis works as a PDE5 enzyme inhibitor but also allows the same effect for a longer period of time.

Cialis was introduced in the European market in partnership with Eli Lilly in February 2003 and the new company became Lilly ICOS. Cialis was offered all over the world and because of its effects it took a strong foothold in many countries. The drug has appeal to most men and women is because of the longer lasting effects and a man can take it in the morning and be ready to have sexual relations that evening or even as soon as 30 minutes later.

Lilly ICOS distributes Cialis and after being well received in Europe, Cialis took the US by storm and continues to be one of the top selling drugs for penile dysfunction.