Valeant buys rights for Elidel, Xerese

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International will acquire rights to topical drugs for eczema and cold sores from Swedish drug maker Meda.

Valeant said it would buy rights for the eczema drug Elidel (pimecrolimus) and the cold sore drug Xerese (acyclovir and hydrocortisone) for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Valeant said, however, that Xerese has not yet received regulatory approval in Canada.

Valeant will pay Meda $76 million upfront and over the next 18 months will pay a series of potential milestone payments and royalties of about $130 million.