Allergan Inc., the Irvine-based drug maker that’s currently the target of a hostile takeover attempt, has been a farm team of sorts when it comes to Orange County’s vibrant drug and medical device sectors.
A number of executives with ties to the company have been part of the OC 50 (see Special Report, starting on page 15) in the 22 years the Business Journal has been compiling the annual inventory of influence.
Current Allergan Chief Executive David Pyott has been a fixture on the list throughout his 16-year tenure, which has included the company’s growth to $6 billion in yearly revenue and status as the most valuable public company based in Orange County, with a market capitalization of some $50 billion.
A roster of executives who spent time at Allergan before moving on to other companies also have served as significant figures over the years.
• Former OC 50er James Mazzo spent 22 years with the company before being tapped to lead the spinoff of its eye surgery and contact lens care businesses into Advanced Medical Optics Inc. Advanced Medical is now known as Santa Ana-based Abbott Medical Optics Inc., a unit of Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Ill.
Mazzo last year became a Newport Beach-based operating partner with Versant Ventures LLC. He also took on chief executive duties for Irvine-based eye device maker AcuFocus Inc., a Versant portfolio company.
• Current OC 50er William Link serves as a managing director working in Versant’s Newport Beach office.
Link has what could be called a “reverse” connection with Allergan—he moved to Orange County from Indiana, leaving academia to establish American Medical Optics. Allergan bought American Medical in 1986 and owned it until the 2002 Advanced Medical spinoff.
• Robert Grant, who heads Newport Beach-based “lifestyle medicine” investor Alphaeon Corp., also has a stint at Allergan on his resume. He headed Allergan’s cosmetic division, Allergan Medical, from 2006 to 2010.
Allergan also spawned some former local device and drug executives.
• Vince Anido is now chairman of Bedminster, N.J-based Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is developing glaucoma drugs. He spent three years as president of Allergan’s Americas region during the mid-1990s. He is perhaps best known as the chief executive of Irvine-based eye drug maker Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc. Anido was with Ista from late 2001 until 2012, when the company was sold to Bausch + Lomb Inc. for $500 million.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Bausch is now part of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., which evolved out of Costa Mesa-based ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Valeant’s hostile $47 billion bid for Allergan remained on the table last week, when Allergan said it would consider the offer in due time.
