Galderma and Zars extend Pliaglis agreement

Galderma Pharma has agreed an extension with Zars Pharma that gives it the exclusive rights for all markets outside the US and Canada for the distribution of the topical anaesthetic cream Pliaglis.

The partnership follows an agreement signed last year between the two companies for the promotion and distribution of Pliaglis in the US and Canada.

Humberto C Antunes, chief executive officer of Galderma, welcomed the agreement extension, suggesting that it gave the company a new opportunity to contribute to “progress in patient care worldwide”.

“As the market for corrective and aesthetic procedures continues to grow, Pliaglis, with its unique vehicle and comfort of use for both patient and doctor is poised to fill an important unmet need,” he illustrated.

Pliaglis is a prescription-strength lidocaine and tetracaine combination anaesthetic cream indicated to provide topical local analgesia for superficial dermatological procedures such as dermal filler injections, facial laser resurfacing and laser-assisted tattoo removal.

Galderma launched the cream in the US earlier this year and expects to file it with regulatory authorities worldwide this year.

Last month, Galderma signed an agreement to acquire the US firm CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals in a $420 million (213 million pound) deal.