Fourth time’s a charm for Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. as the U.S. FDA has approved Ycanth (cantharidin) to treat molluscum contagiosum in those ages 2 and older. Three complete response letters (CRL) have stood in the treatment’s way for the past three years, blocking approval of the U.S.’s first approved treatment.
The U.S. FDA has rejected Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s drug-device combination to treat the viral skin disease molluscum for a third time, losing more ground to a potential rival from Novan Inc., because of continued manufacturing issues. There are no FDA-approved treatments for molluscum contagiosum, which leads to skin-colored or pink lesions and affects around 6 million people in the U.S. annually.
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s launch plans for drug-device candidate, VP-102 (cantharidin 0.7% topical solution), in the viral skin infection molluscum contagiosum were hit with another delay, as the FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) in response to the NDA, just two days ahead of its Sept. 23 PDUFA date.
