Dura Pharmaceuticals and Allergan Sign Deal

Allergan Inc. and Dura Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that they have signed a multiyear, multiproduct agreement to market selected Allergan products in the U.S. primary care and respiratory segments.

A spokesman for Dura Pharmaceuticals said the 5-year contract doesn’t have an estimated dollar value.

In a joint press release, the companies said they will co-launch Alocril by March of this year. Allergan received Food and Drug Administration approval in December to market its Alocril product to treat the itch associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

Allergan, an Irvine maker of eye-care and specialty pharmaceutical products, said it will promote Alocril to ophthalmologists, while Dura Pharmaceuticals will promote the product to primary care practitioners and respiratory specialists.