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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Merz Inc. has completed its purchase of Stiefel Labs’ Onmel, a tablet for treating toenail fungal infections.
Merz said Tuesday that Onmel is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved oral treatment dosed in a once-daily, 200-mg single tablet of itraconazole. The medication uses Abbott’s Meltrex melt extrusion technology.
"The acquisition of Onmel fits with our vision to continue our leadership in antifungal therapy," stated Jim Hartman, vice president of dermatology at Merz Inc. "Merz currently has the No. 1 branded prescription topical antifungal, Naftin,in the U.S. marketplace. Onmel is the perfect addition to our antifungal product portfolio."
Onmel indicated for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toenail, caused by Trichophyton rubrum or T. Mentagrophytes in patients with a normal immune system. Onychomycosis, which can also affect fingernails, causes the nail to thicken, discolor, disfigure and split. Half of all nail disorders are caused by onychomycosis, and it’s the most common nail disease in adults, Merz reported.
"Onychomycosis is difficult to treat because human nails grow slowly and receive very little blood supply," according to Alan Fleischer, M.D., executive director of dermatology at Merz Pharmaceuticals.
