FDA approves Canadian company's topical acne gel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a topical acne gel developed and manufactured by Canadian drug company QLT Inc.

The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company, says its Aczone gel is the only topical acne treatment containing dapsone, a drug that is taken in pill form to treat certain skin rashes and leprosy. QLT says potential patients will need to be screened for a certain type of anemia before starting the therapy.

Shares of QLT jumped 50 cents, or 4.8 percent, to $11.02 in after-hours trading following the news that Aczone had been granted FDA approval.