Are there any competing products for Botox?
In the United States, Allergan’s Botox is the only FDA approved version of botulinum toxin A. However, in other countries another botulinum toxin A is approved and used as commonly as Botox is in this country. In Europe, this competing brand is called Dysport and is manufactured by IPSEN, a Danish company. As of 2007, this product has completed a Phase III FDA trial and should receive FDA approval in early 2009. I am one of the investigators in this project and I am not at liberty to discuss my clinical impressions of this product until it gains approval. This product will be sold under the name Reloxin and is the first agent to compete with Botox. Other neurotoxins are also undergoing testing and soon, multiple brands should be available.
