Briefs from the dermatology industry, as it responds to COVID-19

Allergan. Of the approximately $13 million in charitable grants the Allergan Foundation has awarded in 2020, a total of $2 million will be dedicated to more than 70 organizations responding to the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Other grant recipients include initiatives supporting Mental Health, Eye Care, and Breast Health, Allergan says. The Allergan Foundation has donated a total of approximately $108 million in its 22-year history to.

"The goal of these fast-track grants is to put much needed financial help in the hands of organizations who support vulnerable people in need of food, housing and mental health services as quickly as possible," says Brent Saunders, Chairman of The Allergan Foundation. "We are humbled by the care these front-line organizations provide to people in need in California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Ohio, Florida and several international locations (supported by a grant to the Allergan International Foundation), and proud to add them to the many organizations we support who are making a difference in the health and wellbeing of our communities." 

Included among the organizations receiving grants are The New York Community Trust NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund; Community Food Bank of New Jersey; Orange County, California United Way; Central Texas Food Bank; and Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati.

AG Hair. As COVID-19 escalates in Canada, AG Hair has shifting full focus to hand sanitizer production with the goal of supporting health organizations like Vancouver Coastal Health and the Government of Canada during a time of mass sanitizer shortages. The company will also leverage its extensive global manufacturing contacts to source badly needed medical supplies like N95 surgical masks, disposable gloves and other personal protective equipment that meet Health Canada and other recognized health standards.

Certified by Health Canada and the FDA as an OTC (Over the Counter)drug production facility and a Health Canada NHP (Natural Health Product) facility, AG has converted its entire manufacturing capacity and has re-directed staff to fulfill orders for AG’s Hands Free hand sanitizer gel and Hands Free hand sanitizer spray. 

Revance. Revance has multiple therapeutic clinical trials for DAXI underway and three aesthetic trials underway for DAXI, including Phase 2 open-label studies in forehead lines, crow’s feet and upper facial lines. The forehead lines and crow’s feet trials are fully enrolled with all subjects dosed and past the primary endpoint visit. The upper facial lines trial is fully enrolled, and all subjects have been dosed. Revance is on-track for 2Q 2020 readouts of the forehead and crow’s feet line Phase 2 studies, and will provide an update on the timing of the upper facial lines study results as it gets greater clarity. The company says that, to ensure proper trial coordination and completion, in line with the FDA-issued guidance of March 18, 2020 on the Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Revance is evaluating and implementing risk-based approaches for remote clinical trial monitoring and activities, including remote patient assessment, for those subjects who cannot physically visit clinic sites, to ensure the full completion of trials.

Revance’s anticipated product launch of the RHA® 2, 3 and 4 dermal fillers has moved from 2Q to 3Q of 2020. Product supply of RHA® dermal fillers has been delayed by distribution partner, Teoxane SA, as they temporarily suspended production in Geneva, Switzerland as a precaution surrounding the COVID-19 situation. Teoxane SA is committed to resuming manufacturing operations as soon as it is prudent to do so and has projected a supply delay of one quarter. 

Revance reiterates its 2020 GAAP and non-GAAP operating expense financial guidance of $270-$280 million and $220-$230 million respectively, but notes that with the delay in the RHA® dermal fillers launch and associated hiring of field representatives, actual operating expense results could be at the lower end of these ranges.