UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

August 19, 2010

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-14471		52-1574808
(State of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)

7720 North Dobson Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(602) 808-8800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 8.01		Other Events.

     On August 19, 2010, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (the “Company”) filed suit against Acella Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Acella”) in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona based on Acella’s manufacture and offer for sale of benzoyl peroxide foaming cloths which the Company believes infringe one or more claims of the Company’s U.S. Patent No. 7,776,355 (the “’355 Patent”) covering certain of the Company’s products, including TRIAZ^® (benzoyl peroxide) 3%, 6% and 9% Foaming Cloths indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris. The ’355 Patent was issued to the Company by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on August 17, 2010 and expires in June 2026. The relief requested by the Company in the lawsuit includes a request for a permanent injunction preventing Acella from infringing the ’355 Patent by engaging in the manufacture, use, importation, offer to sell, or sale of any products covered by the ’355 Patent, including Acella’s benzoyl peroxide foaming cloths, and from inducing or contributing to any such activities.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.