The US firm’s oncolytic peptide candidate, VP-315, has shown tumor clearance in a Phase II basal cell carcinoma trial, marking a positive start for its plans to expand from non-malignant dermatology to skin cancer.

Public Company Edition: UroGen raised $120m in a private placement of ordinary shares. Also, Verrica entered into a debt financing for up to $125m upon approval of Ycanth for molluscum contagiosum and job cuts were announced by Homology, Mersana, Infinity and others.

The fourth review cycle is the charm for Verrica's cantharidin topical solution; Rosemary Roberts, head of CDER's Counter-Terrorism and Emergency Coordination Staff, retires after 35 years at the FDA; DEA deems five designer benzodiazepines with no currently accepted medical use in the US as Schedule I controlled substances.

Verrica’s Ycanth, a drug-device combination product containing a formulation of cantharidin, is approved by the FDA as the first treatment for molluscum, after three complete response letters.