Sawai’s Q2 results mirrored those of Q1, with a strong performance in Japan but a weak one in the US. The firm is continuing to focus on establishing new production facilities in both territories.

Sun-Cassiopea’s novel mechanism of action acne drug sees a “fair degree” of early physician interest in the US, with some analysts expecting the topical androgen receptor inhibitor to emerge as a key addition to the Indian’s firm’s specialty portfolio.

Japan’s Sawai was cautioned by one analyst earlier this year that it lacked sufficient excess production capacity to handle the sharp expansion in demand for its products. Now the company has announced plans to build a new solid dosage form facility.

Japanese player Towa Pharmaceutical joined Sawai in capitalizing on Nichi-Iko’s misery by taking market share from its rival, as it ran factories at full capacity and plotted for further expansion.