The FDA approved Anacor Pharmaceuticals’ (ANAC) Kerydin (tavaborole) topical solution on July 8 for the topical treatment of onychomycosis of the toenails. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed, and Kerydin is the first oxaborole developed for its topical treatment.
Valeant’s (VRX) Jublia (efinaconazole 10% topical solution) was approved in the same indication this June, setting Anacor up for a marketing battle with the larger specialty pharmaceutical company. In 2013, investors were spooked when it became apparent that Jublia cured the fungal infection in more patients. Anacor has not partnered Kerydin but plans to launch in the U.S. with or without one as early as the third quarter. The company ended the first quarter with cash and equivalents of $146.7 million, which should be sufficient to get the commercial effort off the ground.
