Ligand Pharmaceuticals is launching Pelthos Therapeutics (Pelthos), a biopharmaceutical company, and has appointed Scott Plesha as Chief Executive Officer to accelerate the commercialization of berdazimer topical gel, 10.3% (Zelsuvmi) for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum.
Prior to joining Pelthos, Mr. Plesha was President and Chief Commercial Officer at BioDelivery Sciences (BDSI) until it was acquired by Collegium Pharmaceutical in 2022. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Gastrointestinal Sales at Salix Pharmaceuticals. Before Salix, Mr. Plesha was a Regional Sales Manager for Oclassen Dermatologics, a division of Watson Laboratories, and in commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
“I am excited to assume the leadership of Pelthos as we prepare to offer the first at-home therapy for the many patients who are completely untreated today or who need a more suitable option,” says Mr. Plesha in a news release. “This is a company that has several meaningful milestones on the horizon and a team that is ready to execute to meet the needs of patients.”
Watch Now: Nanette B. Silverberg, MD, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, shares updates on available treatments for molluscum contagiosum including the newly approved Zelsuvmi (berdazimer topical gel, 10.3% (Zelsuvmi, Ligand) cantharidin (Ycanth, Verrica).
Ligand intends to commercialize Zelsuvmi in partnership with a capital provider and/or strategic partner. To date, Ligand has created three companies utilizing this strategy: Viking Therapeutics, Primrose Bio, and OmniAb. Pelthos is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ligand.
The company’s lead product is berdazimer topical gel, 10.3% (Zelsuvmi) for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adults and pediatric patients one year of age and older. Zelsuvmi received a Novel Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is the first and only approved topical prescription medication that can be applied outside of a physician’s office or other medical setting. The product was developed using Pelthos’ proprietary nitric oxide-based technology platform, Nitricil. Zelsuvmi is expected to be available in the United States in late 2024. Ligand acquired the rights to Zelsuvmi and all the assets related to the Nitricil technology platform from Novan, Inc. in September 2023.
