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Then Could Present Trial Data at Medical Meeting
Irvine-based drug maker Allergan Inc. is moving along with the development of an active ingredient in two of its drugs for hair loss.
Allergan is doing two second-phase clinical trials comparing bimatoprost to minoxidil, Scott Whitcup, the drug maker's chief scientific officer, said in a recent conference call with analysts.
The active ingredient in eyelash-grower Latisse and Allergan's Lumigan glaucoma drug is bimatoprost.
Minoxidil is the active ingredient in New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson's Rogarne hair growth drug.
Chief Executive David fyott said in a recent interview that those trials are examining "how well has bimatoprost functioned relative to Rogarne."
Whitcup said Allergan expects to "finish all of our analyses of the data as they come in by sort of early next year." The company then would submit the data to a major medical meeting for a presentation.
Allergan could have a big success on its hands if bimatoprost is developed and approved for hair loss. There is an estimated $ 1 billion-plus annual market for hair-loss drugs and hair transplants.
The development of bimatoprost for scalphair loss is...