Verrica Pharmaceuticals at H.C. Wainwright conference: growth and pipeline

On September 14, 2026, Verrica Pharmaceuticals (VRCA) showcased its business model at the H.C. Wainwright 28th Annual Global Investment Conference. The company's foundation lies in one commercial product, YCANTH, and two late-stage programs in development. Management highlighted rising sales, international expansion, and a capital-efficient development plan, while cautioning that the company relies on clinical outcomes and partner funding to transform these achievements into long-term value.

YCANTH, approved for molluscum contagiosum, has dispensed approximately 120,000 applicators and generated $15.3 million in revenue in 2025, a 130% increase from 2024. The company aims to expand YCANTH's market to common warts, a condition affecting 22 million people annually in the U.S., with a potential market value of over $1 billion. Two Phase III common warts trials, COVE-2 and COVE-3, are underway, with top-line data from COVE-2 anticipated in Q1 2027 and COVE-3 in mid-2027.

Verrica's basal cell carcinoma program, VP-315, demonstrated a 97% objective response rate in Phase II trials and is being prepared for Phase III. Shionogi is contributing $40 million to fund the Phase III program, reducing Verrica's immediate cash strain. Chief Executive Jayson Rieger affirmed YCANTH as the company's commercial backbone, noting its status as the first FDA-approved healthcare provider-administered treatment for molluscum contagiosum, a skin infection prevalent among about 6 million U.S. patients, primarily children.