- Business
- Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of prescription products in therapeutic areas including dermatology, women’s health, urology, and acute care. Its core product portfolio includes commercial products such as Natroba and its authorized generic Spinosad for the topical treatment of head lice and scabies; Epuris, an oral isotretinoin treatment for severe acne; Absorica, an oral retinoid for severe nodular and inflammatory acne; Actikerall for the treatment of actinic keratosis; Vaniqa, a topical cream that slows the growth of unwanted facial hair; Durela, an opioid analgesic for moderate to moderately severe pain management; Brinavess for rapid conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm; and Aggrastat, an intravenous GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor for acute coronary syndrome. Its licensed products further include Lipofen for hyperlipidemia and Conzip, an opioid agonist for chronic pain management. In its pipeline, Cipher develops products such as MOB-015, a topical terbinafine formulation for onychomycosis in phase 3 clinical trials; CF-101 (Piclidenoson) for severe plaque psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis in phase 3; and DTR-001, a tattoo removal cream in pre-clinical stages. The company operates primarily in Canada, with commercial reach into the U.S. and South America. Founded in 2000, it is headquartered in Oakville, Canada.
Recent major developments include Cipher Pharmaceuticals’ 2024 acquisition of the Natroba product line and ParaPRO LLC’s dermatology commercial infrastructure, significantly expanding its dermatology platform and doubling its current sales and earnings base. The acquisition reinforces Cipher’s strategy to establish a leading dermatology franchise featuring innovative and unique products. Cipher has also secured Medicaid step-through preferred status for Natroba in Illinois and continues to invest in growing market share for Natroba in the U.S., including planned commercialization in Canada following Health Canada regulatory approval. The company is actively pursuing additional business development opportunities including acquisitions, in-licensing, and out-licensing globally to enhance its North American platform and expand its product portfolio. It recently closed a $35 million credit facility to support growth initiatives and continues to leverage its strong sales force and Canadian dermatology market presence for new product launches and expansions.
Cipher Pharmaceuticals manages a broad portfolio of commercial and early to late-stage specialty pharmaceutical products addressing unmet medical needs, with direct marketing efforts in Canada and partnerships in the U.S. and other regions. The company's focus on dermatology and specialty medicines is supported by strategic acquisitions, selective investments in drug development, and a diversified approach to commercializing prescription products with sustained growth prospects in North American and global markets.