Allergan
Encyclopedia
Allergan, Inc., is a global specialty pharmaceutical company
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...

. Their product ranges include ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 pharmaceuticals, dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....

 products, and neurological products.

Profile

The company's most notable neurologic product is Botox, used around the world to treat a variety of debilitating disorders associated with muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...

 overactivity and also well-known—under the trade names Botox Cosmetic and Vistabel—for the treatment of facial lines.

Its most important manufacturing plants are in Waco, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

; Westport
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....

, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

; and San Jose
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...

, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....

.

Allergan is also a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). They are the state corporate co-chair of Tennessee, a "Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 ALEC Annual Conference, and member of Louisiana Host Committee.

History

In 1948 Gavin S. Herbert, Sr., started a small ophthalmic business in a laboratory above one of his Los Angeles drugstores. Stanley Bly, who had only a bachelor's degree in chemistry, created the business's first product, an antihistamine eye drop named Allergan. Under the company name Allergan, Bly developed additional products, including a cortisone eye drop, Cortefrin. The small business was assisted by the salesmanship of Herbert's son, Gavin Herbert Jr., a 19-year-old student at the University of Southern California. In 1950, Allergan launched its first product, NASAL DROPS.

In 1953 Bly's sudden death almost caused the company to close. Sales at that time were approximately $25,000, and many of Bly's product formulas were undocumented. A young associate professor at the University of Southern California's School of Pharmacy, John Biles, reformulated Allergan's products and saved the company from failure. The next year, Allergan continued to struggle when Gavin Herbert, Jr., was drafted into the navy during the Korean War and Herbert, Sr., was involved in an automobile accident and was hospitalized for several months. Herbert, Jr., kept the company alive by commuting from his station in San Diego to Los Angeles on weekends. In 1957 Gavin Herbert, Jr., was discharged from the navy and Allergan sales had reached $100,000.

In the late 1950s Allergan moved out of the upstairs laboratory into a 6,000-square-foot space in a converted Los Angeles theater. With the assistance of Jack Browning, an ad agency executive and former employee of SmithKline, Allergan also launched its first marketing plan. A key element of that plan was the advent of Allergan's first national product, Prednefrin, a corticosteroid. By 1960 Allergan was a million-dollar company and the company moved its operations to a 30,000-square-foot plant in Santa Ana, California.

In 1962, Allergan achieves $1 million in eye care sales. In 1966, Worldwide corporate headquarters was established in Irvine by acquiring a 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) parcel of land. In 1970, Allergan becomes publicly traded and achieves $10 million in sales. In 1978, the company started manufacturing in Ireland. In 1980, subsidiaries are established in 30 countries, and products are marketed in more than 100 countries; sales reached $100 million. In 1980, Allergan was acquired by SmithKline Beecham (then known as "SmithKline Corporation" and herein "SmithKline"). Allergan operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of SmithKline from 1980 until 1989. In 1989, Allergan again became a stand-alone public company through a spin-off distribution by SmithKline. In 1992, Allergan sold its contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...

 business in North and South America. In 1993, Allergan sold its contact lens business outside of the Americas. In 1994, Allergan acquired the Ioptex Research worldwide intraocular lens product line. In 1987, Allergan achieves $500 million in sales.

In 1995, Allergan achieves $1 billion in sales. In 1995, Allergan completed four acquisitions. In January 1995, Allergan acquired Optical Micro Systems, Inc., a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of phacoemulsification surgical equipment. In June 1995, Allergan acquired Laboratorios Frumtost, S.A., a manufacturer of ophthalmic and other pharmaceutical products in Brazil. In August 1995, Allergan purchased the assets of Herald Pharmacal, Inc., a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of glycolic acid-based, aesthetic skin care products. In November 1995, Allergan purchased the worldwide contact lens care product business of Pilkington Barnes Hind. Also in 1995, Allergan acquired 100% ownership interest in Santen-Allergan, its Japanese contact lens care joint venture. In 1999, Allergan implemented a two-for-one stock split
Stock split
A stock split or stock divide increases the number of shares in a public company. The price is adjusted such that the before and after market capitalization of the company remains the same and dilution does not occur. Options and warrants are included....

 effected as a dividend to stockholders of record on November 18, 1999.

In 2002, Botox is born. In 2004, Allergan achieves $2 billion in sales. In 2006, Allergan Achieves $3 billion in sales; Lap Band is born. In 2006, in March, Allergan acquired aesthetic company, Inamed, to create a world leading aesthetic brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...

 focused on facial aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...

, breast aesthetics, and devices designed to treat obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...

 (lapband). In 2007, Breast implants developed (see "Inamed acquisition" below). In 2007, in February, Allergan acquired the Swiss company Endoart SA based on the EPFL campus for its expertise in the field of telemetrically-controlled implants
Implant (medicine)
An implant is a medical device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, support a damaged biological structure, or enhance an existing biological structure. Medical implants are man-made devices, in contrast to a transplant, which is a transplanted biomedical tissue...

. However, in the lack of a marketable product, Allergan has closed this startup in 2011.

In 2007, in November, Allergan is reported to be investigating the cosmetic properties of Lumigan in clinical trials.. In 2009, Allergan released above mentioned product under the name "Latisse.". In 2010, Allergan acquired Serica Technologies, located in Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...

.

Products

  • NATRELLE: Breast Implants (Silicone and Saline)
  • LAP-BAND: An adjustable gastric band
    Adjustable gastric band
    A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly referred to as a lap band, is an inflatable silicone device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach, via laparoscopic surgery, in order to treat obesity...

    , inserted laparoscopically (in most circumstances); a restrictive device implanted via bariatric surgery
    Bariatric surgery
    Bariatric surgery includes a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device or through removal of a portion of the stomach or by resecting and re-routing the small intestines...

     and designed for obese patients with a body mass index
    Body mass index
    The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...

     (BMI) of 40 or greater.
  • ORBERA SYSTEM: An intragastric balloon, inserted endoscopically; designed to assist weight loss by partially filling the stomach and inducing satiety for overweight patients with a body mass index
    Body mass index
    The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...

     (BMI) of 27 or greater.
  • LUMIGAN: anti-glaucoma
    Glaucoma
    Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...

     medication containing the active ingredient bimatoprost
    Bimatoprost
    Bimatoprost is a prostaglandin analog/prodrug used topically to control the progression of glaucoma and in the management of ocular hypertension. It reduces intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes...

    .
  • Alphagan P: anti-(glaucoma) medication containing the active ingredient (brimonidine)
  • ACULAR
  • ACULAR LS
  • Acuvail
  • ZYMAR .3%
  • Zymaxid .5%
  • F M L (fluorometholone
    Fluorometholone
    Fluorometholone is a corticosteroid, most often used after laser-based refractive surgery. It is marketed under the brand names FML and Flarex ....

    )
  • Combigan: anti-(glaucoma) medication containing a combination of active ingredients (brimonidine) and (timolol)
  • BOTOX: anti-spasm
    Spasm
    In medicine a spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes...

     medication containing the active ingredient botulinum toxin
    Botulinum toxin
    Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and is considered the most powerful neurotoxin ever discovered. Botulinum toxin causes Botulism poisoning, a serious and life-threatening illness in humans and animals...

    .
    • BOTOX COSMETIC: anti-wrinkle
      Wrinkle
      A wrinkle is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation or, temporarily, as the result of prolonged immersion in water. Wrinkling in the skin is caused by habitual facial expressions, aging, sun damage, smoking, poor...

       cosmetic drug derived from botox
    • VISTABEL: anti-wrinkle
      Wrinkle
      A wrinkle is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation or, temporarily, as the result of prolonged immersion in water. Wrinkling in the skin is caused by habitual facial expressions, aging, sun damage, smoking, poor...

       cosmetic drug derived from botox
  • REFRESH: artificial tears containing carboxymethylcellulose
    • CELLUVISC
    • DRY EYE THERAPY
      • Sensitive
    • LACRI-LUBE
    • LIQUIGEL
    • PLUS
    • P.M.
    • REDNESS RELIEF
    • TEARS
    • OPTIVE: most advanced retail dry-eye treatment
  • RESTASIS: dry eye treatment containing cyclosporine.
    • JUVEDERM: used cosmetically for wrinkles and fine lines, also for lip augmentation
    • TAZORAC: for severe acne and psoriasis
    • LATISSE: used to lengthen and thicken eyelashes (attenuated version of Lumigan)
    • OZURDEX: for BRVO and CRVO
    • VIVITE: Complete Facial Line

External links

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