Ligand Pharma's at-home skin treatment gets FDA approval (updated)

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

05/01/2024 22:15

(Adds details about the drug in paragraphs 2 and 3 and
background)
       Jan 5 (Reuters) - Ligand Pharmaceuticals'  LGND.O 
topical treatment for a viral skin infection has received
approval from the U.S. health regulator, the company said on
Friday, marking the first-ever at-home approved treatment for
the condition in the country. 
    The gel, Zelsuvmi, is expected to be available in the U.S.
in the second half of 2024.  
    The pricing has not yet been established, a company
spokesperson said in an email.
    Ligand's shares were up about 5% in extended trading.
    Zelsuvmi will treat a type of highly contagious skin
infection called molluscum contagiosum. It is caused by a
poxvirus and results in skin lesions that usually resolve within
a year without scarring, but can take a lot longer in some
cases.
    The drug will compete with Verrica Pharmaceuticals'  VRCA.O 
Ycanth, which last year became the first U.S.-approved treatment
for the infection, but requires medical supervision during
application.
   

 (Reporting by Pratik Jain and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru;
Editing by Tasim Zahid, Pooja Desai and Sriraj Kalluvila)
 ((Pratik.Jain@thomsonreuters.com;))