Medicis’ skin drug gets generic threat from Actavis Mid Atlantic

(Reuters) – Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp said generic drugmaker Actavis Mid Atlantic filed a marketing application for a generic version of one of Medicis’ skin drugs. The drug Zyclara is used to treat patients with actinic keratosis, a small, red, raised area on the skin that has been exposed to the sun for a long time. Zyclara is currently protected by two patents, one of which is valid until 2029. The cream’s seven-year marketing exclusivity will expire in March 2013. Medicis said it will defend its intellectual property rights relating to the product. …