Injunction lifted on sales of Merz's Botox competitor

The Business Journal by Matt Evans, Reporter

Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Matt Evans

Reporter- The Business Journal

A 10-month court-ordered injunction against Merz North America's product Xeomin expires today, the company said in a news release.

That injunction was imposed last March after a judge ruled that employees Merz had hired away from rival drug makerAllergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) had used stolen confidential information while with Merz. Xeomin is a competitor to Allergan's popular wrinkle-fighting drug Botox.

CEO Bill Humphries said the injunction was a "challenge" but Merz North America, which is based in High Point, has improved compliance training and continued development on a number of new products.

"Moving into 2013 our focus will be on sales and marketing execution in the marketplace, business development and licensing, and the organic expansion of our pipeline to better serve patients and physicians," he said.

Matt Evans covers technology, entrepreneurship, higher education and financial services. Contact him at (336) 370-2916.