Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is one pharmaceutical company that seems to be doing everything right. Recently, the company reported an increase in sales and also reported being part of the Lupus Research Study. The study will be carried out along with 23andMe, a leading personal genetics company. The study is aimed at understanding the genetic behind lupus. The boost in sales in the Chinese market came from the sale of Viagra.

Viagra is the patented ED drug by Pfizer, with the patent due to expire in 2020. However, the company has been able to gain substantial profits from the sale of the drug over the years. The drug holds 45% share in the sexual dysfunction market worldwide. The previous year reported $1.3 billion in sales of the drug from US alone. As per recent data, the sales of Viagra from China have registered a rise of 47% in year-over-year sales.

The rise in sales has also been able to compensate the decline of the drug in other market, recorded to be 24%. Since the drug had lost its exclusivity last year, other competitors have arisen and are responsible for this decline. China, however, seems to value the efficiency of Viagra over its competitors.

The company is also planning to conduct the lupus study this month, with 5,000 individuals, with the disease, as subjects. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans suffer from the disease, which is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system starts attacking healthy cells. There is no known cure for the disease and the factors are also not very clear.

The study aims to provide solutions to these problems. The two companies believe that by studying the genetics of the disease and family history of patients a likely cause can be identified. Once that has been achieved, a few treatment options can then be developed for the sufferers.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) closed at $34.12 after losing 0.58% on My 5. The company has 6.29 billion shares being traded in the market, with a 52-week range of $27.51-$35.52.