Reloxin one step closer to taking on Botox in US market

Everyone is on pins and needles (pun intended) waiting for Reloxin, especially Allergan, the maker of Botox Cosmetic.

This week, Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery published a new study evaluating the long-term safety of Reloxin for repeated use in moderate to severe glabellar lines (forehead wrinkles) over thirteen months.

Medicis Pharmaceutical expects to receive FDA clearance for Reloxin injections later this year. When this occurs, it will be the first real competitor to Botox, which created about 1.3 billion in revenue last year.

Los Angeles dermatologist Ronald Moy, MD told Bloomberg “the side effects are the same as Botox. Many of our patients liked it even better.”

Reloxin, like Botox, is composed of a particular botulinum toxin that has been proven to relax the muscles that cause wrinkles in the face. Although Reloxin has been sold outside the US for over fifteen years under the name Dysport, Botox has still managed to claim over 80 percent of the worldwide market for the neurotoxin.

One market analyst speculates that "Reloxin may be priced 15 percent lower than Botox" which may allow it to take a significant share of the market.

With the new trial data, medical opinions on Reloxin vs. Botox are starting to emerge, as are factors related to the business of injectables. Plastic surgeon Dr. Kamran Jafri points out, "as always competition is a good and healthy thing."

Eva Sheie for Real Beauty News

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