Information about Botox from Allergan

Vistabel is a well-known brand of botulinum toxin. Many doctors and clinics use Vistabel for wrinkle treatments or to treat hyperhidrosis.

History of Botox

Since the 1970s, botulinum toxin treatments have been used in the medical field. This botulinum toxin was developed and produced by ophthalmologist Alan B. Scott, who was searching for treatment methods for strabismus (crossed eyes) and blepharospasm (the involuntary contraction of the eyelids). To achieve this, he founded the company Oculinum Inc., which began producing the botulinum toxin.

In 1986, pharmaceutical company Allergan acquired Oculinum Inc. Allergan changed the brand name to Botox and has since been conducting research into both medical and cosmetic applications of the product. In 2002, Allergan received approval from the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the cosmetic treatment of frown lines. What most people don’t know is that Botox is actually a brand name for botulinum toxin.

The History of Allergan

In 1948, pharmacist Gavin S. Herbert founded Allergan Pharmaceuticals Inc. The American company focused on the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical formulas for specialized medical applications. In 1953, the first cortisone eye drop was introduced for the treatment of allergies and eye inflammation.

In 1986, Allergan acquired Oculinum Inc., which had developed botulinum toxin as a treatment for muscle tension caused by conditions such as strabismus and blepharospasm. Allergan decided to further commercialize the product under the name Botox. From day one, Allergan conducted scientific research into additional medical and cosmetic applications of the product. This strategy paid off. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2018 alone, 7.4 million botulinum toxin treatments were performed in the United States, with Allergan holding an estimated market share of around 70%. Extrapolating from these numbers, it is estimated that more than 10 million Botox treatments are performed worldwide every year.

In May 2020, Allergan was acquired by the biopharmaceutical company AbbVie for $63 billion. Visit the Allergan Netherlands website here. To put this in perspective, Allergan was purchased in 1970 for $259 million, meaning the company has increased in value by roughly 24,000 times. Today, Allergan’s headquarters is located in Dublin, Ireland, with its Botox manufacturing facility in Westport, Ireland.

FDA Approval

On December 30, 1989, botulinum toxin received its first FDA approval. This means the medication has been in use for 35 years. Over the years, hundreds of millions of people worldwide have been treated with it. Botulinum toxin is one of the most scientifically studied medications, with consistently positive long-term results.

Vistabel: The Official Brand Name

In 2012, Allergan decided to split into two divisions: one focused on medical applications (including neurology and urology) and another focused on aesthetic medicine. The company chose Vistabel as the brand name for its cosmetic medicine division.

Unique Features of Vistabel

Allergan announced in June 2019 in a press release that they had produced 100,000,000 (100 million) vials of Botox. They also stated that Botox has a high safety profile, which has been demonstrated in over 148 scientific clinical studies.

The Botox is manufactured in Westport, on the west coast of Ireland. This is where the advanced and technically sophisticated Botox factory is located, where in the cleanrooms, the air is refreshed 200 times per hour to maintain the quality of the product. Allergan states:

“Every vial is 100 percent visually inspected.”

Certifications of Vistabel

Since 2002, Allergan has received approval from the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the cosmetic treatment of frown lines.

“After studying this medicine (Botox) for 30 years, we truly know a lot about it. We have a very large safety database, and based on our deep understanding of the mechanism of action and safety profile, we are now treating conditions that we never would have imagined treating 20 years ago,”
says Mitchell Brin, SVP Global Drug Development and Chief Scientific Officer at Allergan, in the press release marking the production of the 100 millionth vial of Botox in June 2019.

Other Medical Activities of Allergan

In addition to eye drops and Botox, Allergan now offers a wide range of medicines and medical devices in the fields of immunology, hematological oncology, and neurology.

Furthermore, the Allergan Aesthetics division has been expanded with various products. For example, in 2006, the company acquired Inamed to add its range of breast implants and Juvéderm hyaluronic acid fillers.

Find a Clinic Offering Vistabel by Allergan

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