4. It’s not all about Botox
4. It’s not all about Botox
Allergan does have other products—not blockbusters like Botox, but plenty that help plump up profits, including silicone breast implants and Juvéderm wrinkle filler. (Other dermal fillers on the market, including Restylane and Radiesse, also are sometimes used with Botox.) Its ophthalmology products include the glaucoma drug Lumigan, and Restasis and Refresh drops for dry eyes. It has acne medicine Aczone, Sanctura for overactive bladder, and the Lap-Band device for treating obesity. Pyott wisely has stayed focused on the specialized markets Allergan knows well, rather than battling in the commodity-oriented general medicine arena.
And when it comes to dreaming up new products, Allergan certainly has a creative streak. Take Latisse, which it began selling in January to treat unfortunate sufferers of the heartbreaking condition called hypotrichosis, otherwise known as skimpy eyelashes. The topical solution is so effective at lengthening and thickening lashes that Pyott believes annual worldwide sales eventually could reach $500 million or more. Improbable as that might sound, Silverberg reports that Latisse is “selling like hot cakes” at her dermatology practice. One of her patients found the treatment worked too well: Her lashes grew so long she had to trim them back with scissors to keep them from brushing against her eyeglasses.