Allergan Inc. said Monday that the Food and Drug Administration signed off on Juv & #269;derm, a line of skin fillers used on the lower part of the face to smooth out wrinkles and folds.
Allergan acquired Juv & #269;derm through its $3.2 billion buy of Santa Barbara’s Inamed Corp., which closed in March.
Juv & #269;derm is made from hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing agent that’s found in the skin. Three formulations of the product were approved, depending on how severe the skin wrinkling is.
The approval boosts Allergan’s lineup of medical cosmetic products, which includes the company’s flagship Botox treatment.
Last week, David Maris, a Bank of America analyst, upgraded Allergan based in part on the expectation that Juv & #269;derm and silicone breast implants, once they are approved, could be growth catalysts for Allergan.
Allergan said it plans to announce when Juv & #269;derm will be available later this year.
Meanwhile, Allergan said Monday that it prevailed in a patent lawsuit against Apotex Inc. of Toronto, and Apotex’s Novex Pharma unit. Apotex was looking to sell generic versions of Allergan’s Acular, a drug to treat itchy eyes.
A federal court in Northern California found that Apotex and Novex infringed a patent owned by Syntex LLC, and licensed by Allergan. The court also said Apotex can’t file a new drug application before the patent expires in 2009.
