Stiefel Laboratories Inc., the world's largest independent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, has acquired ABR Invent and ABR Development, developers of the dermal filler Atléan.
Stiefel will acquire all shares of ABR Invent and ABR Development through a definitive stock purchase agreement. Both ABR Invent and ABR Development are legal entities based in France.
"Stiefel Laboratories has been looking for the right dermal filler to add to our aesthetic portfolio for quite some time," said Charles W Stiefel, chairman and CEO, Stiefel Laboratories. "After conducting due diligence and extensive research, our team made an offer to ABR Development, a company whose innovation, expertise and product portfolio will significantly strengthen our position in the global aesthetics market. We are delighted that our proposal was accepted".
Atléan dermal filler is currently commercialized in France and Italy and distribution and manufacturing agreements for the product will remain in place throughout Europe. All sales representatives formerly employed by ABR Development will now become employees of Stiefel Laboratories.
Over the next 18 months, Stiefel plans to launch Atléan dermal filler in multiple areas, including parts of Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. The company will continue clinical development of Atléan dermal filler in order to expeditiously submit the product for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies around the world. Stiefel also expects to develop other products from the ABR portfolio.
According to Bill Humphries, president, Stiefel Laboratories, the company is optimistic that Atléan dermal filler will be approved globally in key aesthetic markets.
"The use of dermal fillers is growing worldwide at a very rapid pace," said Humphries. "Stiefel chose to add Atléan dermal filler to our product portfolio so that we can submit a unique and broader offering of options to our valued physician partners and they can, in turn, offer these products to their patients".
Atléan dermal filler uses a combination of tricalcium phosphate particles (Beta-TCP) suspended in a hyaluronic acid gel. The injectable product is recommended for sculpting and remodelling the face.
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in skin tissue, transporting and delivering water to the skin, and contributing to its elasticity. As key ingredients in Atléan dermal filler, hyaluronic acid facilitates an immediate and temporary volumizing effect, and the micro particles of Beta-TCP, by stimulating endogenous synthesis of collagen, contribute to the sustained effects of the product.
The acquisition of ABR gives Stiefel the opportunity to enter the rapidly growing dermal filler market, which is estimated to reach more than $1 billion in 2010 as more people around the world seek rejuvenation options rather than invasive surgery.