Actavis Pharmaceutical Buys Botox Manufacturer Allergan In 66 Billion Dollar Deal

Pharmaceutical acquired Botox manufacturer Allergan in a $66 billion dollar deal, valued at $219 per share which was reported at the time as the biggest pharmaceutical deal of 2014. The acquisition positioned the combined company among the top global drug makers. As Brent Saunders, chief executive of Actavis, stated, the deal was designed to establish a long-term foundation for growth, anchored by blockbuster product franchises and a strong late-stage pipeline.

Botox is Allergan’s #1 bestselling product, used cosmetically to reduce lines and wrinkles and create an aesthetically youthful appearance. Botox has also been used for medical purposes, such as migraines and involuntary muscle spasms, and was even being studied at the time for potential use with other conditions, such as osteoporosis and urinary incontinence. This wasn’t a small or routine acquisition at $66 billion, the deal reflected just how valuable Botox itself had become as a single product line, and signaled that major pharmaceutical companies saw the medical aesthetics space as a serious long-term growth driver rather than a passing trend.

Actavis Pharmaceutical Adopts The Allergan Name

A few months after the deal closed, according to CTV News, Actavis Pharmaceutical announced plans to adopt the Allergan name going forward. The company stated it planned to use the newly acquired “Allergan” name globally, although it would still use “Actavis” for certain products and territories.

At the time, Botox was already predicted to grow exponentially in the years ahead. With 5 million clients in the United States alone in a single recent year, it remained one of the most successful noninvasive cosmetic treatments in the nation. Botox is used cosmetically to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenating the skin and creating an overall youthful appearance, with no downtime for clients and results that tend to last between three and five months. Medical professionals eligible for certification — including doctors, nurses, and physician’s assistants — can offer this treatment to clients once properly trained.

Leap In Revenue

Roughly two months after the deal closed, Actavis Pharmaceutical released its first quarter financial results, revealing a significant jump in sales. Reporting on the results, Fierce Pharma noted that the acquisition of Allergan was the major driver behind the company’s soaring revenue that quarter. It was reportedly the biggest acquisition Actavis had made to date, and with Botox now part of its portfolio, the company expected continued annual revenue growth — solidifying its place as one of the leading drug makers in the world.

Botox’s versatility played a role in that growth. Beyond wrinkles, the treatment is used to address involuntary twitching, bladder control issues and more. Interestingly, before it became known as a cosmetic treatment, Botox was first FDA approved in 1989 to treat eye muscle disorders. It was only later approved to reduce wrinkles, in addition to the many other skin and healthcare treatments it’s used for today.

Botox remains the #1 nonsurgical treatment in the United States, with millions of treatments performed annually. Because it’s noninvasive, no downtime is required — one of the many perks it offers as an anti-aging treatment.

Cosmetic Botox Training

With the continued success and growth of Botox, more medical professionals have sought out cosmetic Botox training. Certification is required in order to provide this treatment to clients — it isn’t something a medical professional can simply pick up without proper instruction, given the precision required around facial anatomy, dosage and injection technique. National Laser Institute, the leading medical aesthetics school, offers medical professionals hands-on Botox training in as little as a weekend. Courses are taught by leading experts in the field, including plastic surgeons and physicians; and include safety training along with the latest, safest injection techniques, combined with genuine hands-on practice treating multiple clients rather than just observing from the sidelines.

National Laser Institute has been in the industry for well over a decade and trains countless medical professionals across multiple locations each month. As deals like the Actavis-Allergan acquisition demonstrate, Botox’s staying power as a leading pharmaceutical and cosmetic product shows no signs of slowing — making now a strong time for medical professionals to consider adding this in-demand treatment to their own practice. To learn more about Botox training or other medical aesthetic courses, simply call 800-982-6817 or fill out the form on our site.