Novartis says buys Ziarco Group to expand skin care portfolio

Novartis is buying privately held drugmaker Ziarco Group for an undisclosed sum to gain access to its investigational eczema medicine, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant said.

The acquisition adds UK-based Ziarco's once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist, ZPL389, that is being developed for the chronic, itchy inflammatory skin condition to Novartis's existing portfolio of approved and investigational dermatological drugs.

"There is an unmet need for innovative, effective and safe oral treatment options for people living with eczema," Vasant Narasimhan, Novartis's head of drug development and chief medical officer, said in a statement.