MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.
Issue link: https://medesthetics.epubxp.com/i/283505
NEWS & EVENTS 66 APRIL 2014 | Med Esthetics VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS TO ACQUIRE PRECISION DERMATOLOGY Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has entered into a defi ni- tive agreement, under which Valeant will acquire PreCision Dermatology for $475 million in cash, plus an additional $25 million payable upon the achievement of a sales-based mile- stone. PreCision develops and markets dermatology products, including Locoid, Hylatopic, Clindagel, and BenzEFoam. The transaction is expected to close in the fi rst half of 2014. "PreCision Dermatology has a wide range of medical dermatology products, treating a number of topical disease states such as acne and atopic dermatitis, and should bring tremendous value to Valeant's medical dermatology portfo- lio," stated J. Michael Pearson, chairman and CEO of Valeant. "Furthermore, PreCision's diversifi ed portfolio of products enjoys high physician loyalty, premium product quality and life- cycle management opportunities that will enhance our future growth strategies. We believe this acquisition will strengthen Valeant's product portfolio and solidify our position as a leader in dermatology." "We are very excited for the opportunity to be part of the fast growing Valeant organization. The combined resources of both companies will create a strengthened competitor, poised to contend with the leading companies in the dermatology market," said Bob Moccia, CEO of PreCision Dermatology. GALDERMA RELEASES RESULTS OF LONG-TERM MIRVASO STUDY On January 29, Galderma Laboratories announced the publication of its one-year, open-label, non-comparative study of Mirvaso, showing the long-term effi cacy and safety of the Topical Gel, 0.33%, in patients with moderate to severe facial erythema (redness) of rosacea. The 276 subjects tested used Mirvaso once-daily for a minimum of one year. The study helped earn Mirvaso—which may work by constricting the di- lated facial blood vessels—FDA approval in August of 2013 as the fi rst and only topical treatment indicated for the persistent facial erythema of rosacea in adults 18 years of age or older. Humberto Antunes, president and CEO of Galderma praised the study for "providing additional evidence of the effi cacy and safety of Mirvaso for patients with persistent facial redness of rosacea," he said. "Since we launched Mirvaso commercially in the United States in September 2013, we have seen widespread adoption by dermatologists, under- scoring the important need for an effective topical prescription treatment for this most common symptom of rosacea." The study did not report any new major safety fi ndings as compared to the vehicle-controlled pivotal studies. The most common adverse events (≥4% of subjects) were fl ushing (10%), erythema (8%), worsening of rosacea (5%), nasopharyngitis (5%), skin burning sensation (4%), increased intraocular pressure (4%) and headache (4%). MIRAMAR LABS SECURES $10 MILLION IN SERIES D FUNDING Miramar Labs, a medical device manufacturer and maker of the miraDry System, announced that it has raised $10 million in Series D funding from Aisling Capital, Cross Creek Capital, Domain Associates, Morgenthaler Ventures and Rusnano- MedInvest. The new investment will be used to expand sales activities around the world, support commercialization efforts and support R&D; efforts on products for new indications. "We have been very pleased with our growth in 2013 as awareness of the miraDry procedure increased signifi cantly here in the U.S. and internationally," said R. Michael Kleine, president and CEO of Miramar Labs. "Not only will this new round of funding enable us to expand our commercialization and global sales efforts, providing the only noninvasive and last- ing treatment option for unwanted underarm sweat, but it will also allow us to accelerate the development and introduction of important new technology platforms in the near future." The miraDry System delivers energy noninvasively to the area under the arm where the sweat glands reside, creating localized heat to destroy and eliminate the glands. ASLMS INTRODUCES PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR George J. Hruza, MD, MBA, of Chesterfi eld, Missouri, has been named Public Policy Director for the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS). This is a new posi- tion. According to the Society's board policies, "The Public Policy Director shall identify and prioritize relevant state and federal legislative and regulatory proposals that relate to this purpose and impact members of the ASLMS." Dr. Hruza is clinical professor of dermatology and otolar- yngology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri and director of the Laser & Dermatologic Surgery Center in St. Louis, where he oversees an American College of Mohs Surgery-approved dermatologic surgery fellowship training program. "The new position will enhance the ASLMS's function as a resource for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in discussing ways to improve the ability of getting safe and effec- tive devices available for the treatment of our patients. I will PHOTOS COURTESY OF GALDERMA N e w E v e n t s M E D 4 1 4 . i n d d 6 6 New Events MED414.indd 66 3 / 1 3 / 1 4 1 1 : 4 3 A M 3/13/14 11:43 AM