Allergan acquires rights to potential topical treatment for under eye bags

Allergan plc announced in a press release that it has acquired Topokine Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing topical medicines for fat reduction.

Terms of the purchase include an upfront payment from Allergan of $85 million and success-based developments and sales milestones of XAF5, a first-in-class topical agent in late-stage development for treating steatoblepharon, or under eye bags, according to the release.

“Physicians and their patients have been seeking an FDA-approved, non-invasive option to address under eye bags where current treatment options are limited,” Jeffrey Dover, MD, FRCPC, a board-certified dermatologist and director of SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, stated in the release. “Adding a topical treatment that physicians could offer to their patients would be an important step forward in the treatment of steatoblepharon.”

Steatoblepharon is a condition affecting an estimated 40 million Americans, according to the release.

XAF5 penetrates the skin and shrinks under eye bags by acting pharmacologically on fat cells, according to the release.

In a phase 2, placebo-controlled, randomized study, XAF5 achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in under eye bags, which was primary endpoint. A phase 2b/3 study of XAF5 was initiated by Topokine in January, according to the release.

Reference: www.allergan.com