Allergan, Inc. (AGN), GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (GSK): The Top 3 Medical Uses of Botox

Marketing hurdles have hardly stopped the industry, however. Ipsen and Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) have received numerous worldwide approvals for Dysport since 2006, including approval in the United States in 2009 (Azzalure in Europe). Dermatology giant Galderma has worldwide rights to cosmetic indications of Dysport, except in the United States, Canada, and Japan. Ipsen and Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) will pick up sales elsewhere for cosmetic indications and several therapeutic uses. Meanwhile, German pharmaceutical company Merz had Xeomin first approved for cosmetic use in 2009 in Germany and in 2011 in the United States.

The marketplace isn’t the only place with competition. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is conducting trials for a neuromodulator for cosmetic use to compete with the three approved therapies above. The company expects its Mentor subsidiary to file a Biologics License Application by the end of 2013 at the earliest. And if injections aren’t your thing, then you may want to wait for Revance Therapeutics to wrap up clinical trials on its topical botulinum toxin gel. I’m not quite sure how that will work out, but it is being developed for both cosmetic and therapeutic indications.

Foolish bottom line

Botulinum toxins are an important tool for treating various nervous system conditions, not just for getting rid of facial wrinkles. These neurotoxins are being continually evaluated for newer treatments, so perhaps the industry is just scratching the surface of potential uses for this and other naturally occurring toxins. Allergan was the first company to put a botulinum toxin to good use, but there is now a flurry of competition to contend with from some well-established pharmaceutical companies. Nevertheless, I think Allergan should continue to reap the benefits from being the first to market and, of course, trademarking the name “Botox.”

The article The Top 3 Medical Uses of Botox originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Maxx Chatsko.

Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Check out his personal portfolio, his CAPS page, or follow him on Twitter @BlacknGoldFool to keep up with his writing on energy, bioprocessing, and biotechnology.The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson.

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