The Food and Drug Administration has approved a rival to Botox, manufactured by Irvine, Calif, based Allergan Inc.
Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp of Scottsdale and its partner, France’s Ipsen SA, have announced that regulators approved their Dysport drug as an anti-wrinkle treatment, as well as for treating spasms of the neck muscles.
Initially expecting a mid-April marketing approval, the FDA delayed its decision because Medicis and Ipsen were in talks with regulators about labeling and detailing of side effects.
Medicis said it anticipates the release of the cosmetic form of the drug, which will use the Dysport name instead of the previously proposed Reloxin, within the next 30 to 60 days.
Ipsen is expected to launch the medical form of Dysport during the second half of the year.
[Source: Orange County Business Journal]