Cipher acquires Canadian rights to Vaniqa, Actikerall

Cipher Pharmaceuticals announced it has acquired the Canadian commercialization rights to Vaniqa and Actikerall from Almirall S.A., according to a press release.

Vaniqa, an enzyme inhibitor, is a prescription cream that reduces growth of unwanted facial hair in women, the release stated. Actikerall is indicated for topical treatment of slightly palpable or moderately thick hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis. Health Canada approved Vaniqa in 2001 and Actikerall on July 31, 2014, according to the release.

Amirall, a Spanish pharmaceutical company, will receive an upfront payment of $0.45 million Canadian, and will be eligible for certain milestones based on product sales in Canada, according to Cipher. It will supply finished product to Cipher, the release stated.

Cipher will launch Actikerall, which has shown to be superior to placebo and noninferior to diclofenac gel in treating actinic keratosis, in the first half of 2015, the release stated.

“Following the successful launch of Epuris, these two approved products expand our Canadian dermatology portfolio and will fit seamlessly into our existing sales infrastructure,” Shawn O’Brien, president and CEO of Cipher, said in the release. “We believe these products have the potential to achieve combined sales of $2 million to $4 million annually.”

Reference: www.cipherpharma.com