Verrica Pharmaceuticals(US:VRCA) Globenewswire·2026-02-09 13:00Core Viewpoint - Verrica Pharmaceuticals has launched YCANTH® in Japan through its partner Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum, addressing a significant unmet medical need in the region [1][2]. Company Overview - Verrica Pharmaceuticals is a dermatology therapeutics company focused on developing medications for skin diseases requiring medical interventions, with YCANTH being its flagship product [5]. - YCANTH is the first and only healthcare professional-administered treatment approved by the FDA for molluscum contagiosum, affecting approximately 6 million people in the U.S., primarily children [4][5]. Product Launch and Approval - The launch of YCANTH in Japan follows its approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in September 2025, based on positive results from a confirmatory Phase 3 trial [2][3]. - The Phase 3 trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the proportion of subjects achieving complete clearance of molluscum lesions compared to placebo [2]. Collaboration and Manufacturing - Verrica has an amended collaboration and license agreement with Torii, which includes plans for a manufacturing transfer of YCANTH applicators to be sold in Japan, expected to take several years [3]. - Verrica will receive a transfer price for applicators manufactured by its partners and will begin receiving royalties related to net sales in Japan after the transfer of at least one manufacturing component [3]. Market Potential - YCANTH is positioned to gain broad adoption in Japan due to the limited treatment options available for molluscum contagiosum, with the company expressing confidence in its safety and efficacy based on Phase 3 study results [2]. - Approximately 250 million lives are eligible to receive YCANTH covered by insurance, with commercially insured patients paying only $25 per treatment visit for up to two applicators [4].