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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
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Advisory Panel Approves Allergan Drug for Cosmetic Use

A glaucoma drug from Irvine-based Allergan Inc. that grows, thickens and darkens eyelashes is safe and effective enough to be sold for cosmetic use, a regulatory advisory panel said Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration prepared a report for the panel based on a study it released on Wednesday saying that bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Allergan’s Lumigan glaucoma drug, had cosmetic benefits.

The panel unanimously approved the marketing of the drug, despite select risks for consumers. The FDA said four out of 137 patients tested dropped out of Allergan’s study because of adverse effects, including eye inflammation.

Allergan said separately that user problems occurred at a low frequency and were largely mild in severity and that the cosmetic benefits of the drug were “well-demonstrated and meaningful.”

Allergan’s stock price was up some 2% on the news in early afternoon New York trading after rising earlier in the week on the prospect of approval.

The company estimates that bimatoprost for eyelashes could top $500 million a year. The drug’s proposed brand name is Latisse and would be sold by prescription.

Allergan has high hopes for the drug, along the lines of its wrinkle remover Botox.

Botox first was approved for muscle spasms and later for treating wrinkles after plastic surgeons started using it cosmetically.

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