Content about Valeant Pharmaceuticals

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis is looking into the possibility of buying Warner Chilcott, the generic drug maker said Friday.

Actavis, the world's third-largest generic drug maker, said it had entered into early-stage discussions with Warner Chilcott about a potential combination of the two, but that no agreement had been reached, and that it wouldn't issue further comment about the matter.

NEW YORK — A proposal by Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to purchase generic drug maker Actavis has fallen through, according to published reports.

According to reports, Valeant was planning to pay more than $13 billion in stock to acquire Actavis, but the deal was put on hold because the companies could not agree to terms of the deal. The deal would create a company worth about $35 billion.

MONTREAL — The Food and Drug Administration approval this week of a generic genital herpes ointment made by Mylan could make a slight dent in the stock price of the company that makes the branded version.

Canada-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said that while it expected Mylan to receive approval for a generic version of Zovirax (acyclovir) ointment, it did not include the approval in its original budget expectations and thus expected its earnings per share in fiscal year 2013 to be reduced by 30 to 40 cents.

NEW YORK — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America announced Wednesday plans to launch a new sun care line nationwide in the spring.

MONTREAL — The Federal Trade Commission has approved a deal by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to buy a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based drug maker.

Valeant said the FRC had finished reviewing its planned acquisition of Medicis Pharmaceutical and allowed the waiting period required under merger and acquisition laws to terminate early.

Valeant said the deal is still subject to conditions like the approval of Medicis' stockholders, who will have a special meeting on Dec. 7. Medicis makes drugs for asthma, fungal infections and skin conditions like acne and eczema.

MONTREAL — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has acquired rights to a drug used to treat a symptom of age-related macular degeneration, the drug maker said.

Valeant announced that it acquired the injected drug Visudyne (verteporfin) from QLT, a company based in Vancouver, Canada.

Valeant said it paid $62.5 million upfront for all U.S. rights and available inventories for the drug, which had U.S. sales of about $21 million in 2011, and another $50 million upfront for rights to non-U.S. sales, which were about $14 million.

MONTREAL — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is buying Medicis Pharmaceutical for $2.6 billion, Valeant said Monday.

The $44-per-share deal, which the companies said represents a 39% premium over the closing price of Medicis' shares on Friday, is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has completed its acquisition of two skin drugs from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the generic drug maker said Monday.

Mylan announced that it had acquired the regulatory approval applications for generic clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide gel, a generic version of Valeant's BenzaClin, and a license to manufacture and market fluorouracil cream in the 5% strength, a version of Valeant's Efudex.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals officially owns an Australian drug maker.

The company announced that it completed its acquisition of iNova, which sells and distributes prescription and over-the-counter drugs in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and South Africa, on Dec. 21 from iNova's current shareholders, Archer Capital, Ironbridge and others.

The deal, which was announced back in November, was valued at up to A$700 million.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — A former Goldman Sachs executive will join Valeant Pharmaceuticals as EVP and CFO.

Howard Schiller will take over the position from Philip Loberg, who has been serving as Valeant's interim CFO on Dec. 1. Prior to his new role, Schiller was COO for Goldman Sachs' investment banking division until his retirement in January.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Valeant Pharmaceuticals has purchased a dermatology subsidiary from Johnson & Johnson, the Canadian drug maker said Friday.

The $345 million acquisition of the Ortho Dermatologics division of J&J subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals follows Valeant’s $425 million purchase of Dermik, the skin care business of French drug maker Sanofi. Ortho Dermatologics’ portfolio includes the drugs Retin-A Micro, Ertaczo and Renova, which collectively had sales of about $150 million in 2010.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals has proposed to buy Cephalon for $5.7 billion, Valeant said Tuesday.

The buyout offer, equal to $73 per share, includes a 29% premium over Cephalon’s stock price. Valeant noted it had made previous offers, but was “disappointed by Cephalon’s unwillingness to engage in discussions in a timely manner.”