FDA Approves Dysport™, a Botox® Competitor

July 1, 2009 - PRLog -- Chapel Hill, NC – The wrinkle treatment, Dysport™, is now available at Aesthetic Solutions.  In April 2009 The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Dysport™ for the treatment of wrinkles and frown lines. This is one of the most anticipated introductions of a product in the field of aesthetic medicine in years.  

The approval includes two separate indications. One is for the treatment of cervical dystonia in adults to reduce the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain, and the other indication is for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines in adults younger than 65 years of age.

Both botulinum toxin products, Botox® and Dysport™, help reduce wrinkles by relaxing overactive muscles but they are not interchangeable formulations.  "Although their action is similar, Dysport™® and Botox® Cosmetic are two different drugs," says dermatologic surgeon, Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, Medical Director of Aesthetic Solutions and Associate Clinical Professor with the Department of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine."There are distinct dosing differences and, although both are measured in units, the number of units injected is not comparable when treating the same areas to get the similar result.”  

There are other differences in the botulinum toxins as well. Dysport™ seems to have a faster onset and has a greater “field” while Botox® tends to remain more localized, allowing for greater precision in the treated area. “Having more products to choose from is beneficial for patients because it enables physicians to select the best treatment for each patient’s needs.” says facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. J. Charles Finn, President of Aesthetic Solutions in Chapel Hill and Assistant Consulting Professor with the Department of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. “Because of the differences in the onset of action and the smoothing out effect I may treat a patient with one product over the other in certain facial areas.” Our physicians at Aesthetic Solutions have worked with both products and will offer both treatments to our patients.

As part of our many clinical studies, Aesthetic Solutions has spent the past 4 years participating in several of the pivotal clinical trials for the FDA and continue to participate in clinical trials evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of Dysport™.  Dysport™ is only the second drug for the treatment of wrinkles to be approved by the FDA.  Dr. Cox and Dr. Finn also participated in Phase III post approval clinical trials for Botox® and have extensive experience injecting both botulinum toxins prior to the products’ availability to other physicians.  

About DYSPORT™ (abobotulinumtoxinA)
The active substance in DYSPORT™ is a botulinum neurotoxin type A complex, which acts at the level of the neuromuscular junction in the targeted muscle. DYSPORT™ is a neuromuscular blocking toxin which acts to block acetylcholine release at motor nerve ends and reduces muscular contraction. Dysport™ has been available in Europe, Asia, and South America for over 10 years. Dysport™ is distributed in the United States by Medicis, the manufacturers of injectable fillers Restylane® and Perlane®. Dysport™ was developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s to successfully treat a number of neurological and ophthalmic conditions. Its use was further expanded to treat a wide variety of neuromuscular disorders, for which it is licensed in over 60 countries.

About the U.S. Aesthetic Market
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2008, 83% of which represented nonsurgical procedures. Injections of botulinum toxin type A have been the number one nonsurgical cosmetic procedure for the past five years, with over 2.4 million total procedures in 2008 alone.  The current U.S. aesthetic market for botulinum toxin type A is estimated to be approximately $300 million to $400 million.

About Aesthetic Solutions
Aesthetic Solutions was established in 1995 by Sue Ellen Cox, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon specializing in surgical and cosmetic dermatology and J. Charles Finn, M.D., a double-board certified surgeon specializing in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery.  Both Dr. Cox and Dr. Finn are two of the nation’s pioneers and experts in Botox® and injectable fillers and lecture throughout the country teaching their techniques.  Dr. John Soderberg, dermatologist, was personally selected by Dr. Cox and Dr. Finn to join the staff in 2008.  Dr. Soderberg is also using both Botox® and Dysport™ regularly to complement his general dermatology services.



For more information about Dysport™, please visit http://www.dysportusa.com.
For more information about Medicis, please visit http://www.medicis.com.

Contact:
Jill Streeter, Marketing/Patient Relations
Aesthetic Solutions
919-403-6200
jstreeter@aesthetic-solutions.com
http://www.aesthetic-solutions.com

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Aesthetic Solutions provides a unique combination of dermatology, laser and facial plastic surgery, specializing in effective anti-aging solutions offering the best in advanced treatments, proven technologies and physician expertise.