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Botulinum Toxin Type B Shows Potential for Treatment of Crow's Feet: Presented at WCD

By Jill Stein
Special to DG News

PARIS, FRANCE -- July 2, 2002 -- Botulinum toxin type B is safe and effective for the treatment of crow's feet wrinkles when administered at a dose of 1,500 units per side.

Dr. Leslie Baumann, of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center in Miami, Florida, United States, presented the results here today at the 20^th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD).

Dr. Baumann and colleagues conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - the first of its kind - to evaluate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B for the treatment of crow's feet wrinkles.

The study enrolled 20 patients with severe or moderate crow's feet wrinkles (as rated using a validated crow's feet wrinkle scale). Fifteen patients received three injections of 500 units of botulinum toxin type B per side; five patients were given three placebo injections per side. Placebo recipients were injected with botulinum toxin type B at day 30.

Maximum wrinkle correction was seen 30 days after injection. Patients reported that wrinkles began to reappear at 49 days; investigators noted a loss of correction on day 60.

Wrinkles returned to baseline levels between days 90 and 120.

Dry mouth was reported by nine patients (45 percent) and in most cases was most likely related to the study drug. Dry eyes were reported by five (25 percent) of study participants, and in all cases was thought to be related to study drug.

Flu-like symptoms were reported by over half of participants, however the study was conducted during peak flu season.

Botulinum toxin type B, marketed as Myobloc, is an antigenically distinct neuromuscular blocking agent produced by Clostridium botulinum. It cleaves the protein synaptobrevin, blocks the release of acetylcholine, temporarily blocks muscle function, and temporarily reduces muscle contraction in a dose-dependent manner. The product was approved for the treatment of cervical dystonia in the United States in December 2000.

The study was supported by Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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