Valeant pays $285 million for derm drug maker

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. Valeant Pharmaceuticals has agreed to buy Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences—which makes drugs to treat acne and other skin conditions, primarily for other pharmaceutical companies—for $285 million, according to several reports.

The deal, set to close in the next few weeks, considerably expands Valeant's presence in the dermatological space.

The privately held Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences—no connection to Dow Chemical—recently received FDA approval for a new prescription topical acne medication, Acanya, which is expected to hit the market early next year and is projected to reach sales of $70 million.

Valeant also will inherit the rest of Dow's considerable new product development pipeline, including several other drugs for treating rosacea, fungal infections and warts.

The Dow acquisition comes close on the heels of Valeant's November purchase of Australian skin care remedy maker DermaTech Pty Ltd., for a little more than $12 million. DermaTech makes drugs for treating acne, psoriasis, warts, head lice and nits, both prescription and OTC.

Analysts are regarding the recent moves as a bit of a "turnaround story," for the northern California-based company formerly known as ICN Pharmaceuticals, which last year reemerged as Valeant Pharmaceuticals following a considerable restructuring.