Galderma Pharma agrees Spirig takeover deal

Galderma Pharma has announced plans to acquire Spirig Pharma, a leading Swiss developer of dermatological products.

By purchasing the company, Galderma will have access to a range of products for the treatment of solar damage and skin barrier function impairment, as well as precancerous conditions such as actinic keratosis.

Its leading brands include Excipial, Daylong and Daylong Actinica, while its sales for the 2011 fiscal year came to 98.4 million Swiss francs (65.85 million pounds).

With this takeover, Galderma will become the dermatology market leader in its home country of Switzerland, while it will also be able to use its capabilities to take Spirig's operations to the next level.

Humberto Antunes, chief executive officer of Galderma, said: "With our global presence, we will be able to make Spirig's outstanding products available to a larger number of patients around the world."

Earlier this month, the company signed a new agreement with Ipsen that will expand their collaboration on the promotion and distribution of the Ipsen product Dysport into new territories.