Prescription medicine
Cantharidin Brand names: Ycanth
Cantharidin (Ycanth) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2023. No generic is listed in FDA's NDC Directory.
- No generic listed
Check it at the source: the cantharidin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2024, Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the NDA 212905 record on Drugs@FDA; every cantharidin label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of November 13, 2024; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageYCANTH is indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.
Forms and strengths
- 3.2 mg/.45ml
Solution.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 21, 2023 Ycanth, Verrica Pharms; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- No generic approved
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 1 of which 0 under generic applications, 1 under brand applications, repackagers included
- Last listed patent
- February 19, 2041 Ycanth solution; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- Not in the survey
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- No recall recorded
- FAERS reports
- 166 through July 30, 2026
What is cantharidin used for?
From the label: indications and usageYCANTH is indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. YCANTH is indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.
Source: FDA drug label (YCANTH), Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective November 13, 2024 (SPL set 7c9bdeaa-9822-4c69-a719-ea4a8643f59c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for cantharidin say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What should I avoid after receiving treatment with YCANTH?Avoid contact with the treated areas of your skin, including contact with your mouth (oral contact). Avoid applying other products to the treated areas of your skin until 24 hours after receiving treatment with YCANTH or until after washing YCANTH off of the treated areas of your skin. YCANTH is flammable, even after drying. Avoid fire, flame or smoking near lesion(s) during treatment and after treatment until YCANTH is washed off of your skin.
Source: FDA drug label (YCANTH), Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective November 13, 2024 (SPL set 7c9bdeaa-9822-4c69-a719-ea4a8643f59c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for cantharidin (Ycanth)?
No generic cantharidin is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).
The Orange Book lists 4 patents for Ycanth solution, the last expiring on February 19, 2041. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 2023 earliest approval on file
- 2041 last listed patent
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do FAERS reports show for cantharidin?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 166 reports that list cantharidin among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 0 are coded as a death and 5 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What next?
- Cantharidin side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other