Two products same disease

Companies often have to consider how second generation products, or different formulations of a product, might eat into the market for the original product. In the case of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., the company is simultaneously developing both oral and topical forms of Panretin 9-cis-retinoic acid for AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The company's solution to any potential overlap is to position the products for different stages of disease progression, and LGND expects the two forms of Panretin to expand its market.

LGND plans to submit an NDA this quarter for Panretin Gel, while its Panretin Capsules are progressing through Phase II development with an NDA anticipated in 1999...