Allergan Inc

Allergan Inc., maker of the wrinkle smoother Botox, said fourth-quarter profit fell 2.4% on spending to promote new products including breast implants and a skin-filling gel. Allergan's net income fell to $136.8 million, or 89 cents a share, from $140.1 million, or $1.03, a year earlier, the Irvine-based company said. Fourth-quarter sales rose 38% to $829.1 million. Profit, excluding certain costs, matched the $1.02 average estimate of analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

Plastic surgeons and the two dominant Southern California-based makers of silicone breast implants are gearing up for what they expect will be a boom in sales of the devices. The only question: How big of a windfall can they expect? More than 290,000 women had breast augmentation surgery in the U.S. last year, most with the saltwater-filled versions that have been legal for years.

Allergan Inc., maker of breast implants and Botox anti-wrinkle treatment, said quarterly profit fell 29% because of restructuring expenses and costs associated with its acquisition of Inamed Corp. The Irvine-based company, which also makes eye medications, said third-quarter net income was $106.4 million, or 70 cents a share, down from $150.5 million, or $1.12, a year earlier. Before exceptional items, the company earned 95 cents a share.

Rivals Allergan Inc. and Mentor Corp. have won Canadian approval to sell silicone-filled breast implants. Allergan was granted a license to sell implants in Canada for breast augmentation, reconstruction and revision surgery, the Irvine-based company said. Santa Barbara-based Mentor made a similar announcement. The companies are counting on the Canadian action to lead to a similar decision in the United States.

Allergan Inc. said second-quarter earnings more than doubled on strong sales of its Botox anti-wrinkle treatment and eye medicines. The Irvine-based company earned $74.2 million, or 49 cents a share, up from $33.4 million, or 25 cents, a year earlier when results were hurt by restructuring costs. Sales jumped 33% to $787 million, helped by new products obtained through Allergan's $3.2-billion acquisition in March of breast-implant maker Inamed Corp.

Allergan Inc., maker of the Botox wrinkle treatment, said the Food and Drug Administration approved its Juvederm dermal filler treatment targeting the folds alongside the nose and mouth. Separately, Allergan said it won a court ruling that would block Apotex Inc. from selling a generic version of a treatment for eye inflammation until 2009.

Allergan Inc., the maker of Botox wrinkle treatments and eye-care products, reported a first-quarter net loss of $444.8 million because of costs to streamline its research and development operations. The loss, amounting to $3.29 a share, contrasted with net income of $79.9 million, or 60 cents a share, a year earlier, the Irvine company said. Sales rose 17% to $615.2 million, helped by a 26% gain for Botox. Sales figures excluded the effect of Allergan's $3.4-billion purchase of Inamed Corp.

Federal antitrust regulators said Wednesday that they had approved Botox maker Allergan Inc.'s $3.2-billion acquisition of Inamed Corp., citing an agreement with the companies to divest Inamed of its right to a potential rival to Botox. The Federal Trade Commission voted 4 to 0 to clear the takeover. A final order by the commission is expected to be issued after a 30-day public comment period.

Botox maker Allergan Inc. has appointed F. Michael Ball president, effective Feb. 1, succeeding David E.I. Pyott. The company said Pyott would retain his positions as chairman and chief executive. Ball, 49, who joined the company in 1995, was named president of pharmaceuticals in 2003.

Allergan Inc., best known for its Botox wrinkle treatment, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit increased 8% on the strength of higher pharmaceutical sales. Net income grew to $122 million, or 90 cents a share, from $112.5 million, or 85 cents, a year earlier. Excluding restructuring and other charges, the company reported adjusted earnings of $124.3 million, or 91 cents. Revenue rose 7% to $594.9 million from $556.2 million in 2004, with pharmaceutical sales up 11%.