New Injectable Fillers and Wrinkle Relaxers Poised For U.S. Release

Posted on July 15, 2010 | by

Several injectable fillers and wrinkle-relaxing toxins already being used in Europe are poised for introduction to the U.S. marketplace within the next year, promising consumers more options, improved product technology, better results and lower prices.

Although the products are in varying stages of readiness to make the crossover from Europe, Belotero, a hyaluronic acid filler similar to Juvéderm and made by Merz, has already been filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and may be available later this year.

PurTox, a botulinum type A wrinkle relaxer similar to Botox and Dysport and made by Mentor, has also completed clinical trials and may be nearing FDA approval.

Other hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers and botulinum type A products that are anticipated contenders for the U.S. marketplace include:

  • SubQ & Voluma (Medicis & Allergan) – Thicker, heavier HA fillers for contouring larger areas
  • Restylane Vital & Juvéderm Hydrate (Medicis & Allergan) – Thinner, lighter HA fillers for areas that have been historically difficult to correct
  • Derma Veil (Medinter) – A pure collagen stimulator similar to Sculptra Aesthetic
  • Novabel (Merz) – Filler formulation derived from brown sea algae
  • Xeomin (Merz) – “Naked” botulinum type A neurotoxin not bound to other, inactive proteins

Innovative new wrinkle treatments

SubQ and Voluma large volume injectables are used throughout Europe for facial contouring, such as chin and cheek augmentation, but SubQ is also reportedly used for body contouring, including buttock and breast augmentation.

Restylane Vital and Juvéderm Hydrate, the thinner HA fillers made by Medicis and Allergan, respectively, are purported to offer wrinkle prevention by boosting skin hydration and elasticity, as well as treat areas that have been historically difficult to correct with fillers, such as the back of hands, décolleté and neck.

Restylane Vital also offers a specialized automatic injection pen that regulates product injection volume and speed for more precise results.

Novabel is another new, innovative injectable filler composed of spherical, flexible structures called Geleons, which are formed from marine algae extract.  This patented Geleon technology reportedly makes injection virtually pain-free and also improves skin elasticity.

In addition, the composition of Novabel is said to make injection easier and reduce swelling, making it ideal for adding volume to facial areas with thin skin, such as the eyelids and tear troughs.

New botulinum type A formulas PurTox and Xeomin are also poised to bring some competition to the world of wrinkle relaxation currently dominated in the U.S. by only two products—Botox and Dysport.

PurTox and Xeomin are different from Botox and Dysport in that their active protein structures are not complexed to other, inactive proteins, which may decrease the possibility of allergic reaction and development of blocking antibodies in patients.

Xeomin and PurTox may also work faster and last longer than Botox and Dysport, however these benefits are purely theoretical.