New Wrinkle-Reducing Drug May Put a Crease in the Botox Market

Move over Botox, there’s a new drug in town! Reloxin, developed by a French pharmaceutical firm, has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to Botox, and may possibly offer longer lasting results for the reduction of forehead wrinkles.

Botox has long been the main source for reducing forehead wrinkles and frown lines among the patients of those who practice cosmetic medicine. The drug prevents the contraction of facial muscles, which gives the face a more smooth appearance that lasts for several months. Now, the French drug maker Ipsen may have created a possible rival with their anti-wrinkle treatment, Reloxin, according to recent research. The report can been found in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Lead researcher Dr. Ronald Moy from the Moy-Fincher Medical Group in Los Angeles said, “Reloxin is as safe and it works as well as Botox,” He went on to say, “I think this will be as popular as Botox, which is the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States.” Moy also added, “Many of our patients are happier and got a more natural look with the use of Reloxin.” Although Reloxin has not yet been approved in the U.S., it has been approved in 23 countries to smooth wrinkles, and has been in used for over 15 years outside the U.S. to treat neurological disorders.

Reloxin differs from Botox in that it contains fewer antigens, allowing the drug to break down more quickly, while it also has less protein in its formula, possibly causing the body to break it down at a slower rate and making it last longer than Botox. In the phase III trials, the effects of Reloxin lasted 13 months.

Another difference between the two anti-wrinkle medications is that Reloxin spreads out more in the tissue than does Botox, which can be more effective in areas such as the forehead. But, according to one expert, the drug’s wider spread into the tissue creates a more tedious task for accuracy in the treatment of areas such as crow’s feet near the eyes. Unless an experienced injector delivers the drug, it may spread to surrounding muscles and cause a droopy eyelid or eyebrow.