PurTox, A New BOTOX Competitor?

June 14, 2011

Allergen’s blockbuster botulinum neurotoxin BOTOX may have a new competitor in the near future: PurTox by Mentor.

Chances are you’ve either had BOTOX done or you’ve heard of it - it is often brought up as controversial points in the press such as: Who is too young for BOTOX? or Which celebrity has gotten BOTOX done? Love it or hate it, the business of botulinum toxin is booming and BOTOX is at the forefront of the anti-wrinkle injectable race. Dysport, another botulinum neurotoxin was FDA approved in June of 2009 but BOTOX still has the strong hold in the market. Could a new contender, PurTox be the first to give BOTOX a run for it’s money?

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Allergan’s survival strategy: Botox everlasting

June 10, 2011

FORTUNE — Big pharmaceutical companies aren’t at a crossroads so much as on the edge of a cliff. Thanks to a special provision in patent laws for drugs, companies lose intellectual property protection on pharmaceuticals after 20 years. After that, exclusive rights to the drugs fall into an abyss of competition from other companies making much cheaper generic versions. The point at which pharma companies lose exclusive rights to their drugs is called the patent cliff.

Yet one company, Allergan (AGN, Fortune 500), has managed to steer clear of the edge. Most big, mainstream pharma companies are desperately working to develop new expensive drugs and filing lawsuits to extend patents on old ones. But to dodge that deadline, Allergan is using another strategy; let’s call it the “stay small and make weird products” approach.

The company behind Botox, the “face-lift in a bottle,” is itself aging rather gracefully. Net sales increased by 13.3%, to roughly $1.3 billion, in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the same period last year, and the company has given analysts no reason to think it won’t put together a string of good quarters. Read more

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Allergan’s CEO Discusses Q1 2011 Results

May 5, 2011

Allergan is off to a strong start for 2011, with growth driven by a wide range of products and franchises across many countries around the world. Our cash pay markets appear to be in an upswing. And for our reimbursed pharmaceuticals, we have good initial sales contributions from the many products approved in 2010. Finally, sales are benefiting from the weak dollar versus almost all global currencies.

Reviewing the results for the first quarter. Sales increased versus the first quarter of 2010 by 13.3% in dollars and by 12.2% in local currencies. Operating performance was strong with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.77, marking an increase of 18.5% versus the first quarter of 2010 and well above expectations provided at the time of the last earnings call. All of our operating regions, North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, enjoyed double-digit sales growth in local currencies, with Latin America growing 32% in U.S. dollars.

Regarding regulatory approvals, we continued to make strong progress in many countries around the world. BOTOX for chronic migraine was approved during the quarter in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong and Korea and is awaiting action at the European Medicines Agency. Several of those markets now await government pricing approval regarding their public programs. Read more

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Allergan Pleads Guilty, Settles Botox Investigation

September 2, 2010

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Allergan pled guilty for its off-label promotion of Botox and will pay $600 million to settle additional charges in a longstanding federal investigation.

Botox is best known for its ability to smooth out wrinkles, but it is also approved to treat spasms in the neck, wrist and fingers, eye muscle disorders and excessive arm sweating.

Allergan released a statement Wednesday saying it would plead guilty to one misdemeanor charge of “misbranding” for marketing Botox as a treatment for unapproved uses such as for headache, pain and cerebral palsy in children.

“Allergan also taught doctors how to bill for off-label uses, including coaching doctors on how to miscode Botox claims, leading to millions of dollars of false claims being submitted to federal and state government programs,” Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Tony West told reporters Wednesday. Read more

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Allergan Resolves United States Government Investigation of Past Sales and Marketing Practices Relating to Certain Therapeutic Uses of BOTOX

September 1, 2010

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) today announced that it has reached a resolution with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the previously reported Government investigation into Allergan’s past U.S. sales and marketing practices relating to certain therapeutic uses of BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA).

Allergan has been cooperating with the Government in a multi-year investigation in Atlanta, Georgia, regarding the use of BOTOX® for certain therapeutic treatments covering a period that commenced in January of 2000. The parties have resolved all issues involved in the investigation by entering into a global settlement, which includes the following: Read more

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Botox Treatments Staying Strong Despite Economy

August 11, 2010

Jeff Russell, IAPAM It’s interesting to read the most recent dermatology and plastic surgery statistics, where they all show Botox injections being in decline, but Allergan reported a 36% surge in profit for the second quarter. This profit was partially due to higher sales of Botox. In fact Botox sales were up 7% over last year. The IAPAM confirms this trend with each of their aesthetic medicine symposiums selling out for the first half of 2010, and the September event is expected to sell out any day.

When unemployment is high, competition for jobs is also high, with many people wanting a more youthful look. The most economical way to do this is with non-invasive aesthetic treatments like Botox, Chemical Peels, and microdermabrasion. These treatments in combination give both men and women a youthful, rejuvenated look for typically under $900. Read more

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Botox Sales Increase 7%

August 2, 2010

Allergan, Inc. (NYSE:AGN) on Monday reported a 36% surge in profit for the second quarter, boosted by higher sales of its anti-wrinkle treatment Botox. During the latest quarter, sales of anti-wrinkle treatment Botox increased 7% from the prior-year quarter to $360.5 million. “The demand for our Botox training at the IAPAM’s Aesthetic Medicine Symposium and Botox/Filler Bootcamp have never been higher,” says IAPAM executive-director, Jeff Russell. “In fact, every symposium we had for the first half of 2010 has sold out, with our members seeing a rise in the number of patients they are seeing for Botox Cosmetic treatments.”

The IAPAM’s Aesthetic Medicine Symposium provides a forum for physicians to immerse themselves in training on the top 5 minimally invasive procedures. Leading the faculty is a team of renowned cosmetic dermatologists who cover aesthetic patient consultations, facial anatomy & musculature, product preparation, pain management, procedural protocols, post treatment issues and continuing practice support. Unlike other programs, the Botox Training is done in a clean, multi-million dollar medical facility, not a hotel room chair. The IAPAM has also added a day focused on how to add hCG and Medically Supervised Weight Loss to a medical practice or medspa. Indeed, doctors who have completed the IAPAM’s Weight Loss, Aesthetic Medicine Symposium and/or Aesthetic Practice Business Start-Up training certainly have a competitive advantage.

About the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), dentists (DDSs/DMDs) doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PA’s) and nurse practitioners (NP’s). Information about the association can be accessed through IAPAM’s website at http://www.IAPAM.com or by contacting:

International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 x704
info@theiapam.com

IAPAM Informational Websites:

Aesthetic Medicine Symposium: http://www.AestheticMedicineSymposium.com
IAPAM Botox/Dermal Filler Bootcamp: http://www.iapam.com/botoxtraining.html
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/IAPAM
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IAPAM

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Allergan’s Botox Migraine FDA Review Extended 3 Months

August 2, 2010

IAPAM News: Aug. 2 (Bloomberg) — Allergan Inc. said U.S. regulators extended by three months a review of its top product, the wrinkle-smoother Botox, for a new use as a migraine treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked for information on safety monitoring of Botox as a migraine treatment and requested doctor training, the Irvine, California-based company said in a statement. Allergan said it gave that information to the FDA, without specifying a decision date. Read more

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Allergan rallies fat fighters, doctor chills

May 21, 2010

Allergan launches political campaign to help overweight citizens

The maker of Botox and the Lap-Band weight-loss stomach band has launched a campaign seeking a change in people’s attitude about obesity — from thinking of it as a moral failure to understanding it as a disease.

Irvine-based Allergan is also urging people to petition Congress for legislation to expand insurance coverage of weight-loss options such as the adjustable Lap-Band.

“There’s more than a principle at stake for Allergan. The Lap-Band is mostly not covered by health insurance in the U.S. As it costs about $14,000 out of pocket, only the wealthy can get it,” says the online CBS business network BNET in the article “Why Allergan Is Turning a Surgical Device Into a Political Cause.”

In the campaign, which it launched last week, Allergan wants people to get involved through:A contest for the best essays and videos describing the effects of a Lap-Band. Winners will get a free trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the cause. Read more

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Earnings Preview: Allergan

April 29, 2010

Allergan (AGN) is expected to report Q1 earnings Friday, April 30 before the market open, with a conference call scheduled for 9 am ET.

Guidance

Analysts are looking for EPS of 60c on revenue of 1.11B. The consensus range is 58c-66c for EPS, and $1.07B-$1.18B for revenue, according to First Call. In early February the company gave Q1 EPS guidance of 57c-59c. At the time the EPS consensus estimate for Q1 was 68c. Botox sales may have strengthened as a result of the economic recovery and a rebound in discretionary consumer spending. Another positive for Q1 is seen coming from Latisse, a drug that has been found to enhance eyelash growth. Ophthalmic drugs should also be a positive driver for Allergan in Q1. Possible negative pressures this quarter may be seen coming from Dysport competing for Botox sales.

Analyst Views

On April 19, Goldman Sachs upgraded Allergan to Conviction Buy from Neutral.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/201757-earnings-preview-allergan