Medical Dermatology

market opportunity

  • The U.S. topical market for acne and psoriasis is approximately $1.7 billion, with an annual growth rate of approximately 11 percent.(1)
  • Allergan’s market share in the U.S. acne/psoriasis market is approximately 6 percent.(1)
  • Between 5.8 and 7.5 million Americans are estimated to suffer from psoriasis.(2)
  • An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 years experience acne outbreaks at some point.(3)
  • An estimated 8 million Americans suffer from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).(4)

With deep expertise in retinoids, Allergan offers some of the most technologically advanced dermatology products to treat skin disease as well as enhance the appearance of healthy skin. In 2007, we entered into a collaboration in the United States with Stiefel Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, to further strengthen our presence in the medical dermatology market and to develop and market new products with our innovative and proprietary tazarotene compound. Another common chronic condition addressed within our medical dermatology portfolio is severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (severe underarm sweating). Patients with hyperhidrosis produce an amount of sweat that far exceeds that needed to regulate body temperature. A few of our flagship products include:

BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A)

BOTOX® is FDA-approved for the treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis — severe underarm sweating — that is not adequately managed by topical agents. BOTOX® works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands.

TAZORAC® Gel/ZORAC® Gel (Tazarotene Gel) 0.05%/0.1%

TAZORAC® Cream (Tazarotene Cream) 0.05%/0.1%

Available in the United States and Canada, these products are a topical receptor-selective retinoid. TAZORAC® Gel and Cream 0.05% and 0.1% are approved for the treatment of psoriasis, while TAZORAC® Gel and Cream 0.1% are approved for the treatment of acne.

(1)  Intercontinental Medical Statistics (IMS): U.S. only, Q3 2007 for the trailing 12 months, as of September 2007.
(2)  National Psoriasis Foundation. About Psoriasis: Statistics. Available at: http://www.psoriasis.org/about/stats/index.php. Accessed: February 6, 2008.
(3)  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease. National Institutes of Health. What is acne? Fast facts: an easy-to-read series of publications for the public. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/acne/default.asp#acne_d. Accessed: February 6, 2008.
(4)  American Academy of Dermatology. Press Release: Effective treatments mean excessive sweating patients no longer swimming in anxiety. February 9, 2004.