The story goes back to 1948 when the company was founded by pharmacist Gavin S. Herbert. Working together with chemist Stanly Bly, he invented the company’s very first drug: an anti-allergy nose drop. The new drug run under the name ‘Allergan’.

It officially became a company in 1950, and by that time, their main focus was on eye drops that they have innovatively created. It remained their main product group and with them, they went public in 1970.

Then let’s jump to the end of the 1980s when a new drug had been approved by the FDA – a drug specialized in treating lazy eye. Its name was Botulinum toxin type A, or with other word: Botox. Allergan acquired the company that launched the new drug.

And so we have arrived to the 1990s where the huge shift happened. Ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers used Botox injections successfully as a treatment for tight eyelid condition when she realized the patient’s wrinkles were also fading away at the same time. She published her new findings and dermatologists were the first to start applying the injections on their patients.

Botox became immensely popular in the late 90s. In fact, in 1997 USA had run out of its whole supply, causing immediate panic in those who had been scheduled monthly for the treatment to reduce wrinkles.

In 2002, cosmetic Botox became approved by the FDA.

By the mid-2010s, Allergan co-produced and launched treatments in fields like medical aesthetics (dermal fillers, breast implants, Botox used for treating wrinkles), eye care, obesity and neuroscience (Botox applied for patients with chronic headaches or overactive bladders).

Today, Allergan is focusing on their four ‘core’ businesses, which are aesthetics, eye care, gastrointestinal conditions, and diseases of the central nervous system.