• I wanted to update you on some very exciting news in the arena of facial fillers. The FDA has just approved Xeomin for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (those unwanted vertical lines between the eyebrows). Other cosmetic treatments run the gamut of typical Botox uses: crinkles and wrinkles on forehead, laugh lines, and marionette lines.

    This signifies the third serious Botox contender, with Dysport being the other Botox-style injectable. A possible improvement over the latter two, Xeomin is purer than both Dysport and Botox and may be slightly more comfortable to inject. Effects last for approximately 12 weeks or longer.

    According to Merz Aesthetics, the manufacturer of Xeomin, the response rates seen in the Phase III clinical trials were extremely encouraging, and FDA approval was based on the results of two U.S. clinical trials involving 16 investigational sites and 547 healthy adults. In both studies, Xeomin significantly improved the appearance of glabellar lines 30 days following the first injection, when compared to a placebo.

    Currently Xeomin is approved in 14 countries under the name Bocouture®, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.

    Xeomin will be available nationwide in the U.S. in the spring of 2012. It will be exciting to see how these results stack up to the competition, but thus far indications are very encouraging.

  • Xeomin Merz pharmaceuticals is seeking FDA approval for a product closely related to Botox called Xeomin.

    It has been used for many years in Europe, and might finally make its way through the US regulatory system in 2011.   In many ways it is almost identical to Botox.  It is also nearly painless, lasts just as long and has the same effect.  In fact, it’s made of nearly exactly the same stuff, but is much more pure.

    I had the chance to fly to Miami this past weekend to hear all about Xeomin, and to talk endlessly with German dermatologists who have had years’ worth of experience with Xeomin – to the point that for a few of them this is all they use.  Why not use a product with nearly flawless purity? I’m very excited and will be watching for FDA announcements on the subject very closely, so that I can bring Xeomin to San Francisco right away.

    In case you missed the previous post about the new injectable filler Belotero, please click here.