Revance Therapeutics, a privately held specialty biopharmaceutical company in California, is exploring a Botox product that could be applied to the skin in cream form—no needles necessary, reports WCBS-TV in New York City.
Revance says that it will be two years before clinical trials of the product, called RT001, are complete. Then the FDA will decide whether to approve the drug, which is being tested for use on crow’s feet, according to WCBS-TV.
Some doctors worry about the safety of such a product. In an interview with WCBS-TV, Dr. David Colbert, a New York City dermatologist, says he worries that a Botox lotion product would be so popular that black market versions would be sold online without oversight and that the potential muscle paralyzing effects could be dangerous.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea, but I’m more concerned about the welfare of people who would use it irresponsibly,” he says.
Patients in the early trials tended to see a moderate reduction in wrinkles around their eyes after using the product for a month. The product is being tested on crow’s feet because the skin around the eyes is thin and susceptible to bruising when Botox is injected.
Dr. Richard Glogau, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, who is a primary investigator for the study, said after early trials that Revance needed to rework the formulation so the drug would stay where it was applied and not spread to other parts of the body.
Dr. Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon in Michigan, had some interesting thoughts on the product’s potential. He writes on his website: “I think a huge application of this topical botulinum toxin is in sweat reduction. Could you imagine an antiperspirant stick with this product that lasts several months with each application and leaves no residue? I’d buy it!”
To watch the WCBS-TV segment, go to http://wcbstv.com/video and search for “Botox cream.” (Pictured: before & after use of RT001 for 28 days; image via WCBS-TV)
She follows in Brooke Shields’s footsteps as a spokesperson for Allergan’s eyelash product, which is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA to grow lashes longer, fuller and darker. Since its approval by the FDA in December 2008, about 1.5 million kits of Latisse have been sold.
The before and after gallery follows Danes’s 16-week treatment on Latisse, with photos at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 at front, angled, and profile views that clearly show her lash growth. The website notes that none of the photos were retouched.
Danes recently commented that she became a “Latisse girl” because she was curious about the product. “The more I learned about Latisse, the more impressed I was. I’ve never used a product that actually affected real physical change,” she added.
Latisse was discovered by accident when Allergan was developing a clinical trial for a glaucoma treatment called Lumigan in 2001. Patients reported a side-effect—significantly longer eyelashes—and Allergan began investigating other uses.
During research of Latisse, doctors reported on average:
25 percent increase in eyelash length
106 percent increase in eyelash fullness
18 percent darkening of the eyelashes
Latisse is applied to the base of the lashes, and patients usually start to see results in a few weeks. The effects of Latisse are not permanent, so regular use is necessary. Eyelashes will return to normal after the patient stops applying Latisse.
Contact Dr. Stacy Cosmetic in Bellevue, Washington for more info and special pricing for Latisse. (Before and after photo via latisse.com)
The U.K.’s drug regulator became the first in the world to approve Botox as a tool for preventing chronic migraine headaches, Allergan announced last week. Best known as a wrinkle treatment, it can now be used on migraine patients in the U.K. who have headaches at least 15 days a month, including migraines on 8 days.
Allergan’s clinical trial involved 1,384 adults who had a history of migraines and experienced 15 or more headache days of which at least 50 percent were migraine or probable migraine during the 28-day period. At the end of the baseline period, patients were randomized to receive either Botox injections or placebo.
By week 24 following treatment, patients who received Botox averaged 8.2 fewer migraine days, which was significantly greater than the change from baseline observed in placebo treated patients of 6.2 days.
Lee Tomkins, director of Migraine Action, stressed it was not a “cure” but it offered hope for those who suffer the most frequent migraines. Migraine symptoms may include severe headache; visual disturbances such as spots or flashing lights; sensitivity to light, noise, or smells; and nausea and vomiting.
“We have been following these studies really closely and the evidence is really pretty solid. These people spend half their lives in pain. Even if they get half the attacks, it can really improve their quality of life,” said Tomkins.
Botox was the number one minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure in 2009 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ most recent statistics, which showed that the procedure was performed 4.8 million times in the U.S. last year for cosmetic purposes. Dr. Stacy performs the procedure in her Bellevue, Washington office.
Dr. Anne Chapas, a dermatologist in New York City, explained to Meredith Vieira how she used Fraxel, Thermage, and Isolaz to help the patients with a variety of skin problems, including skin laxity, acne, and sun spots—all without going under the knife.
Jill, a 40-something with years of skin damage from the sun, received Fraxel restore treatment. Dr. Chapas explains that Fraxel gives energy that stimulates new skin cells to grow and gives a refreshed appearance to skin, making it look more youthful and healthy.
Of the treatment, Jill says, “I’m thrilled. It really got rid of so much of the sun damage that I could see. It just makes me feel like I have fresh, new skin.”
Dr. Chapas estimates that it usually takes 1 to 3 treatments to see results. After treatment, patients may have a few days of redness and a little dryness, according to the doctor.
Lisa, a new mom, received Thermage treatment on her stomach. She says she had a lot of extra flab in her mid section after her second child. Thermage tightened her belly and helps her fit better in her clothes.
Thermage can also be used to tighten the face. Lisa B. was suffering from skin discoloration, breakouts and blotches, and looseness. She first received Thermage treatment, which helped tighten her skin and build collagen, followed by Fraxel the next week to help even out her skin tone.
Thermage and Fraxel treatments are available at Dr. Stacy’s Bellevue, Washington office. She is the number one Thermage provider in the state of Washington and patients frequently travel from southwest and eastern Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon for Thermage treatment. Learn more about travel accomodations.
