Botox maker’s Irish division sees losses stretch to €189m

An Irish-based subsidiary of Allergan, the producers of Botox, recorded a pre-tax loss of over $252m (€189m) in 2010 as a result of legal settlements relating to certain therapeutic uses of Botox.

Accounts filed by Allergan Pharmaceuticals Holdings (Ireland) Ltd to the Companies’ Office, show that the holding company’s turnover increased by 33% from $341.2m to $454.8m in the 12 months to the end of Dec 2010. The main factor behind the loss was an exceptional expense of $367.9m due to legal settlement charges related to past US sales and marketing practices relating to certain therapeutic uses of Botox.

Soaring global demand for Botox resulted last year in Allergan announcing the creation of an additional 200 jobs at its plant at Westport, Co Mayo and the jobs will now see over 1,000 people employed by Allergan in Ireland.