Xeomin (Botulinum Toxin Type A) being Trialled as a Rosacea Treatment

Written by David Pascoe on June 12, 2012 in Botulinum Toxin (Botox) with 1 Comment

xeomin-botox

The BOTOX relative Xeomin is to be trialled as a treatment on the cheeks of rosacea sufferers.

We are not told in the trial description if the rosacea symptom of interest is the flushing or blushing associated with rosacea, but this can probably be taken as a given. Just 10 patients will be involved in this Phase 2 trial.

Botox blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neural transmitter that is part of the autonomic nervous system.

What is the difference between Xeomin and Botox ?

Firstly ;

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) first earned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1989.
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Medicis) was approved in 2009.
Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA, Merz) was FDA-approved in July 2010 for treatment of adults with cervical dystonia or blepharospasm.

There is no easy way to compare the treatment results of the three main neurotoxins Botox, Dysport and Xeomin as they all behave differently when injected into skin.

Botox Treatment Reviews

Botox has been used in the past to treat the flushing and blushing of rosacea. Some comments from rosacea sufferers who have tried Botox as treatment are listed here: Botox for neural symptoms and flushing, user reviews

A Fairly Scary Treatment

A scan of the safety information for Xeomin is pretty sobering. Xeomin, like Botox and Dysport need to be used under the care of an expert.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01614743
A Double-Blinded, Randomized Placebo Controlled Pilot Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of IncobotulinumtoxinA Versus Saline Injections to the Cheek Region in Patients With Rosacea
Sponsor: DeNova Research
Collaborator: Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Information provided by (Responsible Party): Steven H. Dayan, DeNova Research
This is a double-blinded, randomized placebo controlled pilot study comparing the efficacy and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA versus saline injections to the cheek region in patients with rosacea.
The pilot study will enroll and treat a total of 10 subjects who present with rosacea of the cheek area.
Upon study entry, subjects will be randomized to receive treatment with incobotulinumtoxinA or bacteriostatic saline to the cheek area.
Study treatment will be prepared by an unblinded designee and both Physician Investigator (PI) and subject will remain blinded for the duration of the study.
At the 16 week visit, control subjects will enter the rescue arm portion of the study and all study subjects will receive treatment with incobotulinumtoxinA to the cheek areas.