Kiwi pimple cream bursts into US market

Wednesday, 25 January 2012, 9:09 am Article: BusinessDesk

Kiwi pimple cream bursts into US market

By HannahLynch

Jan. 25 (BusinessDesk) – new Zealand’s DouglasPharmaceuticals has gained Food and Drug administrationapproval to sell its acne medication, isotretinoin, in theUnited States.

The West Auckland-based company willdispatch its first US orders next month and a consumerlaunch is expected in April or May, the company said in astatement. The US acne medication market is worth about $494million and the company has been trying to break into themarket for 10 years.

“It’s our biggest export productand is the market leader in Spain, Austria, Germany andMexico,” said Jeff Douglas, director. “The US markethas, however taken a little longer to get approval but asthe US is the largest pharmaceutical market in the world thepotential for us is very exciting.”

Douglas was set upin 1967, and sells 15 products into 35 countries, withexport turnover of some $85 million, and it earns more than$57 million domestically.

Isotretinoin is sold as aprescription medicine in new Zealand under the brand nameOratane.

Douglas currently has another three productsunder review by the FDA.

(BusinessDesk)