Medicis continues quest for rights to potential Botox rival

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- With the marketing rights to cosmetic drug Reloxin in a state of flux, Medicis Pharmaceutical is seeking a commercial partnership to market the potential Botox competitor.

Inamed, the current holder of the rights to Reloxin, has said that it plans to terminate those rights in order to avoid regulatory issues that could hinder its $3.2-billion acquisition by Botox-maker Allergan. Scottsdale-based Medicis had attempted to acquire Inamed nearly a year ago, but the transaction fell through in the wake of Allergan's higher bid. Medicis had said its bid to acquire Inamed was based largely on its desire to add Reloxin -- like Botox, a botulinum toxin used to smooth wrinkles -- to its product line.

Inamed said last month it would turn its Reloxin rights back over to Ipsen, the European company it partnered with five years ago to develop the rival product. Now, say industry observers, Medicis may well pursue Ipsen in an effort to strike up a Reloxin marketing partnership.