Valeant Pharmaceuticals launches new prescription acne gel

SAN FRANCISCO Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ dermatology division announced Friday that it had launched a prescription gel for treating acne.

Coria Laboratories has launched Acanya Gel (clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5%), a once-daily treatment for acne in patients aged 12 and older. Coria said it is the only fixed-combination antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide medication with approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the once-daily treatment of both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions.

“Use of combination therapy is recommended at the initiation of acne therapy to inhibit multiple pathogenic factors,” said Diane Thiboutot, an investigator in a phase 3 trial of the drug, in a statement. “The new fixed combination, Acanya Gel, is an effective, safe and well-tolerated topical product for treating patients with moderate to severe inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne.”