ICN Pharmaceuticals Gets OK for Anti-Wrinkle Laser

Costa Mesa drug maker ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market a laser technology designed to remove wrinkles without damaging the skin’s surface.

ICN said in a news release that the technology is the first of its kind.

The company said its technology has been shown in clinical studies to benefit patients in a range of age groups with various degrees of wrinkle severity. In clinical trials, the procedure required no anesthesia, and was typically completed in 20 minutes with no reported discomfort by patients.

The patented technology was developed by ICN Photonics Ltd., a recently acquired U.K. subsidiary. The device is approved in Europe, the company said.

ICN’s stock closed at $28.63, down 6 cents a share, on the New York Stock Exchange.