J&J Ends Development Of Botox Rival : Reports

(RTTNews) - Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson Co. (JNJ) decided to end development of an anti-wrinkle treatment aimed at challenging Botox, according to several reports.

The product, PurTox, was to be Johnson & Johnson's version of the Botox botulinum toxin injection sold by Multi-specialty health care company Allergan Inc. (AGN). The potential Botox rival came with the purchase of breast-implant maker Mentor for about $1.1 billion in 2009.

Citing J&J spokesman, the reports said that the company's Mentor unit was ending work on PurTox to focus on its core breast surgery business. Mentor sells silicone and saline breast implants for medical and cosmetic use.

The company reportedly said that it did not need to take a charge to wind down the PurTox program, and would be eliminating a "small number" of jobs in the U.S.

Botox is one of Allergan's top-selling products with annual sales of about $2 billion. Best known as an anti-wrinkle treatment, it also has been approved by U.S. regulators in recent years for medical use, treating conditions such as migraines and overactive bladder.