Irvine-based drug maker Allergan Inc. is breathing easier after recently resolving a long-running legal battle with rival Alcon Inc., which employs about 500 people around Orange County.
Allergan had filed two suits against Alcon. It came out ahead on one of the suits, while the other was dropped as part of the settlement.
The first suit involved patents covering Allergan’s Alphagan glaucoma medication.
Allergan alleged that Alcon, a Fort Worth, Texas-based unit of Nestl & #233; SA, violated those patents with development of drugs containing brimonidine, Alphagan’s active ingredient.
Under the settlement, Alcon will get a license from Allergan in 2009 to sell its Polyquad drug. Alcon will pay royalties on U.S. sales. The deal also allows Alcon to enter the brimonidine market almost 10 years prior to the drug’s patent expiration.
Allergan’s second lawsuit involved alleged infringement of patents for an eye antibiotic.
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Kinerase products: Valeant re-signed Courteney Cox to pitch skincare lineup |
Alcon said the complaint was intended to target its Vigamox drug. The settlement called for that suit to be dropped.
Meanwhile, Allergan has had to work overtime to close its $3.2 billion buy of Santa Barbara-based device maker Inamed Corp.
Last week, Allergan again extended its offer for shares of Inamed after falling short of its goal of buying 90% of the company’s shares. Allergan needed to get 90% of Inamed in order to complete the acquisition under Delaware law.
The expiration date was set for last Friday. It had been pushed back numerous times since January. In some cases that delay was for regulatory approval.
But Allergan won the OK from the Federal Trade Commission two weeks ago. Approval came after Allergan and Inamed agreed to sell Inamed’s rights to Reloxin, a potential competitor to Allergan’s bellwether Botox, back to Ipsen Ltd., an European drug maker.
Allergan may have wrapped up the buy by the time you read this. If the deal has been pushed back again, it likely is only a matter of time before it’s finalized.
After all, Allergan had picked up more than 80% of Inamed shares by late last week.
Sicor Drug Sparks Fight
Propofol, a powerful generic anesthetic made by Sicor Inc. in Irvine, is the subject of a dispute between two types of physicians.
The disagreement: who should have access to the drug made by Sicor, a unit of Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
The Silicon Valley Business Journal reported earlier this month that doctors who are treating digestive problems are petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to change the labeling on propofol, which is primarily used to sedate people who are undergoing medical procedures.
The doctors, including gastroenterologists, want to use the drug in their practices.
But anesthesiologists are trying to block the effort, charging that giving gastroenterologists access to propofol could be dangerous and compromise patients’ safety.
Anesthesiologists say that while propofol is superior to conventional sedatives, it has some risks because it’s fast acting, potent and doesn’t have an antidote to reverse unintended side effects.
Gastroenterologists reply that anesthesiologists are just trying to protect their turf and that propofol isn’t as risky as claimed. Their petition to regulators cites several studies showing gastroenterologists and nurses working under supervision can safely administer propofol.
The newspaper reported that the FDA still is accepting comment on the issue.
Teva gained propofol in its $3.2 billion buy of Sicor in 2004. Teva participates in an agreement with Baxter Healthcare Corp. regarding propofol,Teva produces the drug and sells it to Baxter, which then performs marketing and distribution functions.
Teva receives a manufacturing fee and an additional profit split based on sales and costs of propofol.
Actress Returns as Kinerase Face
Costa Mesa-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is keeping Courteney Cox, the actress of “Friends” fame, as the face of its Kinerase skincare line.
Valeant said it signed Cox to a one-year contract extension to serve as the exclusive spokeswoman for Kinerase in the U.S. and Europe. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
New advertising with Cox is set to be launched next month, featuring the actress and the product in magazines such as InStyle.
Cox also has agreed to do a limited number of personal appearances on behalf of Kinerase.
In a statement, Cox said that she’s been approached by more than 100 skin care and cosmetics brands to promote products, but “I never even considered promoting any product until I discovered Kinerase. It simply works.”
Bits and Pieces:
Alliance Imaging Inc., Anaheim, presented financials about the company last week at the Lehman Brothers 2006 High Yield Bond and Syndicated Loan Conference in Orlando, Fla. … Community Care Health Centers of Huntington Beach said it’s working on a four-clinic expansion. The company plans to start a women’s health center in Santa Ana, assume ownership of two other clinics in Santa Ana and Orange, and open a pediatric health clinic in Santa Ana in April.
