Allergan to acquire Vicept Therapeutics

Allergan has announced the acquisition of Vicept Therapeutics, a privately-held dermatology company, in a deal worth a total of up to $275 million (170.5 million pounds).

The company was founded in 2009 with the backing of Vivo Ventures, Fidelity Biosciences and Sofinnova Ventures and is currently developing V-101, a new topical cream for treating erythema associated with type I rosacea.

Allergan states that the purchase of Vicept aligns with its strategic goals in the dermatology sector and its efforts to bring new therapies addressing unmet medical needs to market.

V-101 fits in with this strategy due to the fact that there are currently no approved treatments available for type I rosacea.

Dr Scott Whitcup, executive vice-president and chief scientific officer at Allergan, said: "We look forward to potentially providing a new treatment option to physicians and their patients suffering from this often burdensome condition."

Last month, Allergan received clearance from the European Medicines Agency to market its drug Ozurdex as a treatment for non-infectious uveitis, based on positive clinical data.