A glaucoma drug from Allergan was found to be a safe and effective way to make eyelashes longer and fuller by a panel of government experts.
Allergan, which makes Botox anti-wrinkle injections among other things, has presented its Lumigan formula for enhancing eyelashes and asked the FDA for approval.
The agency's panel of outside eye and skin specialists has found that the drug's benefits outweighed its risks. However, they also said that Allergan should conduct follow-up studies to test the drug's use among certain patient groups.
The scientists are worried about the off-label, non-supervised use of the medication, especially by teenagers who might not follow the instructions and use it three or four times instead of once daily. Additionally, only one African-American patient was included in company trials and thr drug's effectiveness should be studied more in that population.
The drug's effectiveness on the eyelash growth was first noticed during studies testing the drugs influence on eye conditions stemming from glaucoma, which the drug is currently marketed for. Allergan-conducted study showed that once-daily application with the formula significantly increased prominence of lashes after four months but it also met its secondary goals of increasing eyelash length, thickness and darkness.
The FDA is expected to make a decision on the drug in mid-2009.
Allergan, which makes Botox anti-wrinkle injections among other things, has presented its Lumigan formula for enhancing eyelashes and asked the FDA for approval.
The agency's panel of outside eye and skin specialists has found that the drug's benefits outweighed its risks. However, they also said that Allergan should conduct follow-up studies to test the drug's use among certain patient groups.
The scientists are worried about the off-label, non-supervised use of the medication, especially by teenagers who might not follow the instructions and use it three or four times instead of once daily. Additionally, only one African-American patient was included in company trials and thr drug's effectiveness should be studied more in that population.
The drug's effectiveness on the eyelash growth was first noticed during studies testing the drugs influence on eye conditions stemming from glaucoma, which the drug is currently marketed for. Allergan-conducted study showed that once-daily application with the formula significantly increased prominence of lashes after four months but it also met its secondary goals of increasing eyelash length, thickness and darkness.
The FDA is expected to make a decision on the drug in mid-2009.
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I have always been under the impression that the side effects of drugs are always undesirable. It is very interesting that a side effect of a synthetic drug is actually beneficial and is being marketed for cosmetic enhancement.
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Jane ( forget last name ), originally used this in her eyelash serum before it was taken off the market for being dangerous.
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