The old adage “Patience is a virtue” certainly holds true when it comes to new cosmetic injectables hitting the market, given the lengthy and exhaustive approval process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But no product has been more highly anticipated as of late than Revance’s daxibotulinumtoxinA (which is now being called Daxxify rather than its earlier name, Daxi). RealSelf first reported on this novel neuromodulator at the end of 2020; a 2021 launch was anticipated, but the FDA rejected it that fall, citing “manufacturing deficiencies.” So when the agency finally approved Daxxify earlier this week, it was no surprise that the aesthetics community was buzzing with excitement.
“This FDA approval has been greatly anticipated by dermatologists for years, due to [Daxxify’s] novel duration,” says New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur, who is part of a select group of doctors who will be the first to carry the product. The neuromodulators currently available (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau) tend to last three to four months, whereas in FDA trials, the median duration of Daxxify was six months, says Dr. Amelia K. Hausauer, a board-certified dermatologist in Campbell, California. (This, when it was injected into the glabellar line, its only FDA-approved indication as of now.) “This is the first botulinum toxin approved with that duration of effect,” she says.
As RealSelf previously reported, it’s the addition of a proprietary peptide, allowing this botulinum toxin to more effectively bond to the receptors that minimize muscle movement, that is responsible for its prolonged duration. Also noteworthy: Unlike its counterparts, Daxxify does not contain human albumin, a stabilizing protein. It’s considered vegan and a “cleaner” alternative than even Xeomin (which is nicknamed the “naked” toxin for its lack of complex proteins surrounding the botulinum toxin molecule but still contains human albumin).
Exactly how Daxxify will fit in among the existing portfolio of neuromodulators remains to be seen, but both doctors underscore the fact that it will cut down on patients’ annual treatments. “Patients often complain that they love the effects of botulinum toxins but [the effects] wear off too quickly. This is a great option for those who cannot or do not want to come into the office as regularly. I care for a lot of busy executives and professionals or patients who fly in from out of town, and creating a more streamlined treatment plan is often best for them,” says Dr. Hausauer. While the number of visits will likely decrease, the overall price tag may still be the same; Dr. Marmur says she anticipates Daxxify to be more of a luxury product that will cost more per treatment than other neuromodulators. That, of course, remains to be seen once it starts popping up in select practices throughout the fall and winter.
