Alcon buys Sirion drug assets

Huenenberg, Switzerland

-Alcon Laboratories is purchasing rights in the United States for two FDA-approved topical eye-care products, difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Durezol) and ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15% (Zirgan), from Sirion Therapeutics Inc.

The difluprednate formulation is a corticosteroid approved for the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with eye surgery, and the ganciclovir formulation is a recently approved antiviral for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis.

Alcon also is acquiring the global rights, excluding Latin America, for an investigational cyclosporine formulation (Zyclorin) not approved by the FDA but being studied for the treatment of ocular surface diseases, including dry eye.

“The acquisition of these products from Sirion is part of our business development strategy to gain access to late-stage or approved products that will incrementally add to sales in the near term while also building our long-term pipeline,” said Kevin Buehler, Alcon’s president and chief executive officer. “Upon closing, this deal will allow Alcon to capitalize on the U.S. registration approval for [difluprednate] and [ganciclovir] with the existing commercial capability in the United States to maximize the brand development and revenue opportunities.”

The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter.