Botox competitor awaits approval

The pharmaceutical giant dominates this market and Botox - its biggest selling product - is currently the only type A botulinum toxin product approved for aesthetic use in the US. Growing market for non surgical procedures ​ Last year sales of the product totalled $1.212 bn and the company has forecast increased sales for 2008. Sales of the product for aesthetic use in 2007 increased by 29 per cent, whereas sales for other uses increased by only 19 per cent. The market growth for cosmetics treatments shows no signs of abating and a possible competitor to Botox may stand much to gain from the growing popularity of non-surgical options such as this. Awaiting FDA approval ​ Ipsen's botulinum toxin product will be marketed under the tradename Reloxin if it is approved by the American regulatory authority. Currently the treatment is approved for use in 23 countries including Australia, Brazil, Germany and Russia, and the company is looking to add other international markets to its portfolio. On the acceptance of the dossier for review by the FDA, Ipsen's US partner Medicis paid the company $25m with the understanding that if the product is approved a further $75m will change hands before Medicis will commercialise the product in the US. If the FDA approval goes ahead the product may be available in the second quarter of 2009, according to industry analysts. If approved, Reloxin will be the first surgical product in Medicis' portfolio. The company currently focuses on dermatological prescription products such as Restylane and Perlane, both based on hyarulonic acid.