Berlex Finevin Priced At 12% Discount To Allergan Acne Treatment Azelex

Berlex will price its acne treatment Finevin at a 12% discount to Allergan's azelaic acid 20% cream Azelex.

Finevin and Azelex are the same formulation of azelaic acid. Berlex expects to differentiate Finevin from Azelex, which has been on the market since January 1996, based primarily on the price discount. The Berlex product will be sold at an average wholesale price of $36.95 per 30 mg tube.

Finevin was approved by FDA April 27 for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. The cream will be launched in mid-May.

Berlex will offer a money-back guarantee to Finevin users. Patients who are dissatisfied with the product can choose to have their copay reimbursed, the company said.

Allergan licensed the azelaic acid cream from Berlex parent Schering AG in 1989 and conducted two pivotal trials in the U.S. in support of the Azelex NDA.

Schering markets the product in Europe as Skinoren. Worldwide sales for Skinoren in 2000 were [Euro]15 mil. ($13 mil.).

Allergan's exclusive license to market the azelaic acid topical expired in September 2000. Schering opted to market its own version of the cream in the U.S., Allergan said. The sNDA for Finevin was filed on Oct. 12, Berlex said.

Berlex' dermatology sales force of 45 reps will market Finevin to 7,000 high-prescribing dermatologists across the country, the company said. The reps currently detail Dusa's Levulan for actinic keratoses.

Berlex will supplement its marketing efforts with a patient-directed educational campaign. The company will provide physicians with information guides to give to patients.

The guide outlines the course of therapy for Finevin patients and contains "an explanation of its mechanism of action and expectations in reducing acne lesions," Berlex said.