A Multicenter, Randomized, Evaluator-Blinded Study to Examine the Safety and Effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid Filler in the Correction of Infraorbital Hollows.

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid injections are increasingly used for correction of infraorbital hollows (IOHs). OBJECTIVES: Examination of effectiveness (IOH correction) and safety of Restylane® EyelightTM hyaluronic acid (HAEYE, Galderma, Uppsala, Sweden) injections. METHODS: Subjects with moderate/severe IOHs, assessed using the Galderma infraorbital hollows scale (GIHS), were randomized to HAEYE injections (via needle/cannula) (Day 1+optional Month-1 touch up) or no-treatment control. Primary endpoint was blinded evaluator-reported Month-3 response, defined as ≥1-point GIHS improvement from baseline (both sides, concurrently). Other endpoints examined investigator-reported aesthetic improvement (GAIS), subject-reported satisfaction (FACE-Q™ satisfaction with outcome; satisfaction questionnaire), and adverse events. RESULTS: Overall, 333 subjects were randomized. Month 3 GIHS responder rate was significantly higher with HA-EYE (87.4%) versus control (17.7%; p<0.001), and comparable between HA-EYE-needle and HA-EYE-cannula groups (p=0.967). HAEYE GAIS responder rate was 87.5-97.7% (Months 3-12). Mean FACE-Q Rasch-transformed scores were 64.3-73.5 (HAEYE) versus 14.1-16.2 (control) through Month 12. Subjects reported looking younger (≥71%) and less tired (≥79%) with reduced under-eye shadows (≥76%) and recovered within 3-5 hours, post-treatment. Efficacy was maintained through Month 12 (63.5% GIHS responders) and through Month 18, after Month-12 retreatment (80.3% GIHS responders; 99.4% GAIS responders; FACE-Q scores: 72.5-72.8). Forty subjects (12.7%) reported typically mild adverse events (4.9% HAEYE-needle; 20.9% HAEYE-cannula). CONCLUSION: HAEYE treatment was effective in correcting moderate/severe IOHs at the primary endpoint (Month 3). Efficacy was sustained through Month 12 after first treatment for 63.5% and through Month 18 for 80.3% (after one retreatment) with needle or cannula administration. Safety outcomes were reassuring.

PrabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar lines in adults, 65 years of age and older: The fourth in a series of post hoc analyses of the phase III clinical study data.

BACKGROUND: Despite the absence of Phase III clinical trial data to support their use, 3.4% of all neurotoxin treatments performed internationally for esthetic purposes in 2020 were performed in patients 65 years of age and older. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and safety of prabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of moderate to severe glabellar lines in the subset of Phase III clinical trial participants who were 65 years of age and older. METHODS: Post hoc analyses were performed on all patients who had been treated with a single dose of 20 U prabotulinumtoxinA in the three 150-day, placebo-controlled Phase III glabellar line clinical studies. Patients were grouped by age: ≥65 years (n = 70) versus <65 years (n = 667). The endpoints of primary interest were the proportion of responders with a ≥1-point improvement from baseline at maximum frown on the 4-point Glabellar Line Scale and treatment-related adverse events. RESULTS: For the efficacy endpoint of primary interest, responder rates among patients 65 years of age and older were numerically less than those of patients less than 65 years by an absolute mean difference of just -2.7% across all visits; none of the differences at any visit were statistically significant. The most common treatment-related adverse event was headache, occurring in 5.7% of those 65 years of age and older and in 9.7% of those less than 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: 20 U prabotulinumtoxinA administered for the treatment of glabellar lines was efficacious in patients 65 years of age and older; it was also well tolerated by this cohort.

Efficacy and Safety of Resilient Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Injected with a Cannula: A Randomized, Evaluator-Blinded, Split-Face Controlled Study.

Purpose: Cannulas are increasingly used for injecting hyaluronic acid fillers, as they are thought to improve patient comfort safety and treatment tolerability. This study aimed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of a Resilient Hyaluronic Acid 4 (RHA 4) filler injected with a cannula versus a needle for the treatment of moderate to severe nasolabial folds (NLF). Patients and Methods: A total of 50 subjects were included in a randomized, evaluator-blinded, split-face trial. The NLF were injected with RHA 4 using a cannula on one side of the face and using a needle on the other side on Day 0. A touch-up could be performed 4 weeks later. The subjects were followed up for 12 weeks after the last injection, ie, injection on Day 0 or touch-up. Efficacy was evaluated using a Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS), the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and patient-reported outcomes. Safety assessments included the injection-site pain, common treatment reactions (CTRs), and adverse events (AEs). Results: Twelve weeks after the last injection, the efficacy of the cannula treatment was found to be non-inferior to that of the needle treatment, based on the WSRS score improvements. The other study endpoints showed the equivalent efficacy and safety of the two methods. No serious or unexpected AEs were reported. Conclusion: RHA 4 may be effectively and safely injected into the NLF using a cannula or a needle, provided it is administrated by a trained practitioner.

Triple-combination clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel for moderate-to-severe acne in children and adolescents: Randomized phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel (IDP-126) is the first fixed-dose triple-combination formulation in development for acne. This post hoc analysis investigated efficacy and safety of IDP-126 in children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe acne. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind phase 2 study (NCT03170388), participants ≥9 years of age with moderate-to-severe acne were eligible for randomization (1:1:1:1:1) to once-daily IDP-126, one of three dyad combination gels, or vehicle gel for 12 weeks. This post hoc analysis of pediatric participants (n = 394) included children and adolescents up to 17 years of age. Assessments included treatment success, inflammatory/noninflammatory lesion counts, Acne-Specific Quality of Life (Acne-QoL) questionnaire, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and cutaneous safety/tolerability. RESULTS: At Week 12, treatment success rates were significantly greater with IDP-126 (55.8%) than with vehicle (5.7%; p < .001) or any of the dyad combinations (range: 30.8%-33.9%; p < .01, all). Lesion reductions with IDP-126 were also significantly greater than with vehicle (inflammatory: 78.3% vs. 45.1%; noninflammatory: 70.0% vs. 37.6%; p < .001, both) and 9.2%-16.6% greater than with any of the dyad combinations. Increases (improvements) from baseline in Acne-QoL domain scores were generally greater with IDP-126 than in any other treatment group. The most common treatment-related TEAEs across treatment groups were application site pain and dryness. Most treatment-related TEAEs were of mild-to-moderate severity. CONCLUSION: IDP-126 gel-a novel fixed-dose, triple-combination topical formulation for acne-demonstrated superior efficacy to vehicle and three dyad component gels and was well tolerated in children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe acne.

Diversity in Academic Dermatology.

The American Medical Association recently declared racism to be a public health threat. It declared that “Racism negatively impacts and exacerbates the health inequities among historically marginalized communities”.1 The New England Journal of Medicine echoed this declaration in a recent article that included goals for making medicine more diverse by transforming “the ranks of institutional research leadership, faculty, trainees, and staff to reflect the demographic diversity of the communities their organizations serve.”2 The article also calls for more transparent selection criteria for choosing leaders in medicine. Necessary changes are articulated and provide a pathway towards more equality in medicine. One subspecialty in the field of medicine (dermatology) lacks the type of diversity one would expect from physicians who study the skin. Although the problem has been discussed for years, it has yet to be rectified. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(5):674-676. doi:10.36849/JDD.6899.

Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%, Benzoyl Peroxide 3.1%, and Adapalene 0.15% Gel for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: A Randomized Phase II Study of the First Triple-Combination Drug.

BACKGROUND: A three-pronged approach to acne treatment-combining an antibiotic, antibacterial, and retinoid-could provide greater efficacy and tolerability than single or dyad treatments, while potentially improving patient compliance and reducing antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple-combination, fixed-dose topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% (IDP-126) gel for the treatment of acne. METHODS: In a phase II, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, 12-week study, eligible participants aged ≥ 9 years with moderate-to-severe acne were equally randomized to once-daily IDP-126, vehicle, or one of three component dyad gels: BPO/adapalene; clindamycin phosphate/BPO; or clindamycin phosphate/adapalene. Coprimary endpoints were treatment success at week 12 (participants achieving a ≥ 2-grade reduction from baseline in Evaluator's Global Severity Score and clear/almost clear skin) and least-squares mean absolute changes from baseline in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts to week 12. Treatment-emergent adverse events and cutaneous safety/tolerability were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 741 participants were enrolled. At week 12, 52.5% of participants achieved treatment success with IDP-126 vs vehicle (8.1%) and dyads (range 27.8-30.5%; P ≤ 0.001, all). IDP-126 also provided significantly greater absolute reductions in inflammatory (29.9) and noninflammatory (35.5) lesions compared with vehicle or dyads (range inflammatory, 19.6-26.8; noninflammatory, 21.8-30.0; P < 0.05, all), corresponding to > 70% reductions with IDP-126. IDP-126 was well tolerated, with most treatment-emergent adverse events of mild-to-moderate severity. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily treatment with the novel fixed-dose triple-combination clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/BPO 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel demonstrated superior efficacy to vehicle and all three dyad component gels, and was well tolerated over 12 weeks in pediatric, adolescent, and adult participants with moderate-to-severe acne. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03170388 (registered 31 May, 2017).

A Randomized, Comparator-Controlled Study of HARC for Cheek Augmentation and Correction of Midface Contour Deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: HARC is a soft and flexible hyaluronic acid filler containing lidocaine, manufactured using XpresHAn® technology, restoring natural-looking volume and soft contours. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of HARC for cheek augmentation and correction of midface contour deficiencies compared to a control product HAJV (hereafter referred to as Control). Primary objective was to demonstrate non-inferiority of HARC compared to the Control, by blinded evaluation of change from baseline in midface fullness 12 weeks after last injection, using a 4 grade midface volume scale (MMVS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects over the age of 21 with loss of fullness in the midface area (MMVS score 2, 3, or 4) were randomized 2:1 to treatment with HARC(n=142) or Control (n=68). Optional touch-up was allowed after 4 weeks. Study assessments included MMVS, aesthetic improvement, subject satisfaction, and safety. Subjects were followed for 48 weeks. RESULTS: Overall, most subjects were female (89%) and mean age was 53 years (range 24-80). Total mean volume injected was 4.3 mL for HARC and 4.9 mL for Control. Primary objective was met; mean change from baseline in MMVS score at week 12: -1.4 (HARC), -1.3 (Control), 95% CI: -0.22, 0.06. HARC effectiveness was supported by a high degree of aesthetic improvement and subject satisfaction throughout 48 weeks. Related adverse events were generally mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS:  HARC was well tolerated and non-inferior to Control for correction of midface fullness at 12 weeks after last injection. Aesthetic improvement and subject satisfaction were high and lasted through week 48.  J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(9):949-956. doi:10.36849/JDD.6191.

The Second of Two One-Year, Multicenter, Open-Label, Repeat-Dose, Phase II Safety Studies of PrabotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Glabellar Lines in Adult Patients.

BACKGROUND: PrabotulinumtoxinA is a 900-kDa botulinum toxin type A produced by Clostridium botulinum. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to investigate the safety of prabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of glabellar lines. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, repeat-dose, 1-year phase II safety study. Adults with moderate to severe glabellar lines at maximum frown, as independently assessed by both investigator and patient on the validated 4-point photonumeric Glabellar Line Scale (0 = no lines, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe), were enrolled. On day 0, patients received an initial treatment (IT) of 20 U prabotulinumtoxinA (4 U/0.1 mL final vacuum-dried formulation injected into 5 glabellar sites). On and after day 90, patients received a repeat treatment (RT) if their Glabellar Line Scale score was ≥2 at maximum frown by investigator assessment. Safety outcomes were evaluated throughout the study. RESULTS: The 570 study patients received a median total dose of 60 U, that is, 3 treatments. Sixty-one patients (10.7%) experienced adverse events (AEs) assessed as possibly study drug related; 6.5% experienced study drug-related AEs after the IT. With each RT, progressively lower percentages of patients experienced study drug-related AEs. Eight patients (1.4%) experienced study drug-related AEs of special interest: 5 experienced eyelid ptosis (0.9%), 3 eyebrow ptosis (0.5%), 1 blepharospasm (0.2%), and 1 blurred vision (0.2%). Seven patients (1.2%) experienced serious AEs, but none were study drug related. A total of 4060 serum samples were tested for antibotulinum toxin antibodies; no seroconversion was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The safety of RTs of 20 U of prabotulinumtoxinA for moderate to severe glabellar lines was confirmed in this second phase II study based on a broad range of outcomes.

A Randomized, Controlled, Evaluator-Blinded, Multi-Center Study of Hyaluronic Acid Filler Effectiveness and Safety in Lip Fullness Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: HARK was recently approved in the US for lip augmentation and correction of upper perioral rhytids. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate noninferiority of HARK versus a control (HAJV) in lip fullness augmentation at Week 8 after last injection (blinded evaluation). Secondary objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of HARK in lip fullness augmentation and correction of upper perioral rhytids. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Treatment with HARK or control (randomized 2:1) was administered on Day 1 in this 48-week, evaluator-blinded study with optional touch-up at Week 4. Primary endpoint was change from baseline to Week 8 in lip fullness. Secondary endpoints included lip fullness, wrinkle severity, aesthetic improvement, subject satisfaction, adverse events, and local tolerability (subject diary entries). RESULTS: The primary objective was met; HARK was noninferior to control in lip fullness augmentation at Week 8. Lip fullness and wrinkle severity improvement persisted at Week 48, and was accompanied by high aesthetic improvement and subject satisfaction scores. The mean volume of HARK injected was approximately 20% lower than control. Treatment-related adverse events and local tolerability symptoms were predominantly mild and transient. CONCLUSION: HARK was noninferior to control in lip fullness augmentation at Week 8, well-tolerated, and effective throughout this 48-week study.

Prior Botulinum Toxin Treatment Does Not Impact Efficacy or Safety in Clinical Trials: Analysis of DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection in the SAKURA Program.

BACKGROUND: Pivotal studies of approved botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) formulations for treatment of glabellar lines have mostly included treatment-naive participants, and the impact of prior BoNTA treatment on efficacy and safety is not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether prior BoNTA treatment affects efficacy, duration of response, and tolerability for treatment of glabellar lines. METHODS: Adults with moderate or severe glabellar lines treated with DaxibotulinumtoxinA for Injection (DAXI) or placebo from the randomized, double-blind SAKURA 1/2 trials and the open-label SAKURA 3 safety study were analyzed by prior BoNTA treatment status. Efficacy was evaluated using investigator and participant assessments. RESULTS: In this analysis, 609 participants (52.2% BoNTA-experienced) from the SAKURA 1/2 trials and 2,380 (38.0% BoNTA-experienced) from the SAKURA 3 study were evaluated. Proportion of participants with none or mild glabellar lines and duration of response were similar between the BoNTA-naive and BoNTA-experienced cohorts in both the DAXI and placebo groups. The incidence of adverse events was also comparable regardless of prior BoNTA treatment status. CONCLUSION: Efficacy and tolerability were similar with DAXI and placebo regardless of prior BoNTA treatment. Assuming an appropriate washout is observed, future BoNTA trials should enroll both treatment-experienced and treatment-naive participants to reflect clinical practice.

Safe and Effective Chin Augmentation With the Hyaluronic Acid Injectable Filler, VYC-20L.

BACKGROUND: VYC-20L is a hyaluronic acid soft tissue filler with lidocaine designed to restore facial volume. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of VYC-20L in patients with chin retrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults with chin retrusion were randomized (3:1) to receive VYC-20L in the chin at study onset (treatment group) or 6 months later (control group). The primary effectiveness end point was ≥1-point improvement on the Allergan Chin Retrusion Scale (ACRS) from baseline at Month 6. Safety assessments included injection site responses (ISRs) and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: VYC-20L was administered to 192 participants (treatment group, n = 144; control group, n = 48). At Month 6, significantly more participants had an ACRS response in the treatment versus control group (56.3% vs 27.5%; p = .0019). Effectiveness was also demonstrated by the proportion of participants with improved/much improved Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale scores and responses on the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Chin questionnaire and FACE-Q Psychological Wellbeing module. Treatment benefit remained evident at Month 12. Most common ISRs were tenderness (81.1%) and firmness (75.1%). One participant (0.5%) discontinued the study due to 2 treatment-related serious AEs of facial cellulitis and injection site inflammation, both resolved without sequelae. CONCLUSION: VYC-20L significantly improved an ACRS response and was generally safe and well tolerated.

Once-Daily Polymeric Tazarotene 0.045% Lotion for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: Pooled Phase 3 Analysis by Sex.

Background: Two identical phase 3 randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, 12-week studies (NCT03168321 and NCT03168334) demonstrated the efficacy and safety of tazarotene 0.045% lotion in participants with moderate-to-severe acne. Data from these studies were pooled and analyzed post hoc to evaluate outcomes by sex. Methods: Patients aged ≥9 years with moderate-to-severe acne (score 3 or 4 on the Evaluator's Global Severity Score [EGSS]) were randomized (1:1) to once-daily tazarotene 0.045% lotion or vehicle lotion for 12 weeks. Outcomes comprised inflammatory/noninflammatory lesion counts, treatment success (proportion of participants achieving ≥2-grade reduction from baseline in EGSS and score of 0 ["clear"] or 1 ["almost clear"]), and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: A total of 1,064 females and 550 males were included in this analysis. For both sexes, least-squares mean percent changes from baseline to week 12 in lesion counts were significantly greater with tazarotene 0.045% lotion versus vehicle (inflammatory: females, -60.1% vs -52.1%; males, -53.6% vs -39.8%; noninflammatory: females, -57.6% vs -44.9%; males, -52.9% vs -36.5%; P<0.001, all). The percentage of participants achieving treatment success at week 12 was also significantly higher with tazarotene 0.045% lotion versus vehicle in females and males (P<0.001, both). Compared with tazarotene-treated males, tazarotene-treated females had significantly greater changes from baseline in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and a greater proportion achieved treatment success at week 12 (P<0.05, all). TEAE rates were similar between tazarotene- and vehicle-treated males; rates were higher for tazarotene-treated females than vehicle-treated females. Conclusions: Tazarotene 0.045% lotion was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne in female and male participants. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(8): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5249

Hyaluronic Acid Soft Tissue Filler for the Treatment of The Hypoplastic Chin: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The hypoplastic chin is associated with facial unattractiveness. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of JUVÉDERM Voluma XC Injectable Gel (hyaluronic acid filler, HAF) for treatment of hypoplastic chin. METHODS: This was a one-year, open-label, single-center study. RESULTS: Thirty subjects received HAF injections of which 24 subjects (80%) completed the study. Mean facial angle significantly improved at all time points compared with baseline, improving by 1.83° (95% confidence interval, 0.91, 2.75; p < .001) at 12 months. Subject satisfaction with lower face and jawline increased significantly for all FACE-Q questions and time points compared with baseline (p < .05). Subject satisfaction with overall facial appearance, and percentage of subjects "not bothered" by area under chin increased significantly for most FACE-Q questions and time points compared with baseline (p < .05). CONCLUSION: In this completed one-year study, HAF injection for hypoplastic chin was safe and accompanied by significant improvement in facial angle, measures of subject satisfaction, and GAIS.

Safety and Effectiveness of VYC-17.5L for Long-Term Correction of Nasolabial Folds.

BACKGROUND: Juvéderm Vollure XC (VYC-17.5L; Allergan plc, Dublin, Ireland) belongs to a family of hyaluronic acid gels based on the Vycross technology platform. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Vollure for correction of moderate to severe nasolabial folds (NLFs) over 18 months and after repeat treatment. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, patients (N = 123) received initial/touch-up treatment with Vollure in 1 NLF and control filler in the contralateral NLF. Patients received optional repeat treatment with Vollure after month 12, 15, or 18. Assessments included investigator-rated NLF Severity Scale responder rates (≥1-point improvement vs baseline), patient-assessed Appraisal of Nasolabial Folds scale of the FACE-Q questionnaire, and patient satisfaction (11-point scale). RESULTS: Median volume of Vollure injected was 1.7 mL for initial/touch-up treatment combined and 0.6 mL for repeat treatment. The NLF Severity Scale responder rates were 93%, 85%, and 59% at months 6, 9, and 18 after initial/touch-up treatment and increased to 94% at 1 month after repeat treatment. Mean patient-reported FACE-Q scores significantly improved from baseline at all timepoints. Most patients were very satisfied with treatment at all timepoints from day 3 (75%) through month 18 (68%) and at 1 month after repeat treatment (94%). Common injection site responses after initial/touch-up and repeat treatment were firmness, swelling, and tenderness to touch; most were mild/moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Vollure was safe and effective for correction of moderate to severe NLFs, with results lasting 18 months in 59% of NLFs. Repeat treatment required one-third of the injection volume to achieve similar improvement in NLF severity as initial/touch-up treatment.

ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid Injection) for Reduction of Submental Fat: Results From a 12-Month Open-Label Study

BACKGROUND: ATX-101 (deoxycholic acid) causes adipocytolysis when injected into subcutaneous fat. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of ATX-101 for submental fat (SMF) reduction. METHODS: Adults (N=165) with moderate-to-extreme SMF received ≤6 treatments of open-label ATX-101 (2 mg/cm2) and were evaluated up to 12 months after last treatment. Efficacy end points included improvements in SMF based on clinician or subject assessment, patient-reported outcomes, downtime (via subject questionnaire), and skin laxity. Safety was evaluated throughout the study. RESULTS: Twelve weeks after last treatment, most subjects achieved a ≥1-grade improvement in SMF based on clinician (86.8%) or subject (83.8%) evaluation; at 12 months, 90.4% and 80.7% of these responders, respectively, maintained the response. Overall, 84.9% of subjects were satisfied with the appearance of their face/chin. At 12 months, 82.9% of subjects had unchanged, and 10.1% had improved, skin laxity relative to 12 weeks after last treatment. Adverse events were mild to moderate and mainly involved the treatment area. During the 7 days after the first treatment, 13.3% of subjects missed work and 33.9% missed social/leisure activities. Following subsequent treatments, 2.4%­6.0% of subjects missed work and 10.0%­15.7% missed social/leisure activities. CONCLUSION: The safety and efficacy of ATX-101 were sustained over 12 months. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01426373 J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(9):870-877.

Efficacy and Safety of PrabotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Glabellar Lines in Adult Subjects: Results From 2 Identical Phase III Studies.

BACKGROUND: PrabotulinumtoxinA is a 900-kDa botulinum toxin Type A produced by Clostridium botulinum. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of prabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult subjects (n = 330 in EV-001; n = 324 in EV-002) with moderate to severe glabellar lines at maximum frown on the 4-point Glabellar Line Scale (GLS; 0 = no lines, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe) were enrolled in 1 of 2 identical 150-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose, Phase III studies. Subjects were randomized 3:1 to receive 20-U prabotulinumtoxinA or placebo. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of responders on Day 30 where the investigator and subject independently agreed that a ≥2-point improvement had occurred on the GLS at maximum frown from Day 0. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated throughout the study. RESULTS: Responder rates in the prabotulinumtoxinA and placebo groups were 67.5% and 1.2% in EV-001 and 70.4% and 1.3% in EV-002; absolute differences between groups were 66.3% and 69.1% in EV-001 and EV-002, respectively (both p < .001). No serious AE in either study was assessed as study drug related. CONCLUSION: In these studies, a single dose of 20-U prabotulinumtoxinA was safe and effective for the treatment of glabellar lines.

Final Data from the Condition of Submental Fullness and Treatment Outcomes Registry (CONTOUR)

Perceptions of attractiveness can be negatively affected by submental fullness. Patients seeking to improve their submental contour have a variety of treatment options including surgical procedures, energy-based devices, and injectable treatment. The Condition of Submental Fullness and Treatment Outcomes Registry (CONTOUR) was designed to provide insights into the treatment of submental fat (SMF) in clinical practice. CONTOUR was a prospective observational study that enrolled 1029 adults at 91 sites in the United States and Canada. Patients were followed until treatment completion, discontinuation, or 1 year elapsed from enrollment without treatment. Final data from CONTOUR are reported here. Of the 676 patients who underwent treatment, 570 were treated with ATX-101 (deoxycholic acid injection), 77 with energy-based devices, 23 with surgical liposuction, 5 with laser liposuction, and 9 with other treatments. The majority of treated patients were facial aesthetic treatment naive. A markedly greater percentage of patients with mild or moderate SMF at baseline received treatment with ATX-101 or energy-based devices, whereas the majority of patients undergoing liposuction had severe or extreme SMF. Physicians most frequently cited a preference for a noninvasive/minimally invasive procedure as the reason for choosing either ATX-101 or energy-based devices. The majority of patients were at least partially satisfied with results, regardless of the chosen treatment. Data from CONTOUR indicate that cost is the most important factor in a patient's decision to undergo treatment, that choice of treatment method is most influenced by SMF severity and preference for nonsurgical versus surgical intervention, and that the availability of noninvasive/minimally invasive options has made SMF treatment an attractive first procedure for patients who have not undergone previous facial aesthetic treatments. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02438813. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(1):40-48.

The Evaluation of Cutaneous Metastasis from an Unknown Primary.

We present the case of a man that had a rapidly growing nodule on his face. Removal of the lesion was more difficult than anticipated because it was tightly adherent to adjacent tissue. Pathology from the lesion showed a malignant neoplasm thought to have arisen at a distant site. The evaluation of this patient may provide insights into the workup for patients that present with cutaneous metastatic malignancies of unknown etiology. In general, these patients need to be fully evaluated in an attempt to locate the primary lesion. When a primary lesion can not be ascertained, careful surveillance of the patient is warranted. We present suggestions for evaluation of patients with cutaneous metastatic lesions without an obvious primary. It is clear that molecular pathology will provide additional information to help identify the primary lesion. Scanning of areas likely to be the source using CT PET/ CT and MRI studies may also yield information. Finally, a careful history and physical examination are also important for these patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(7):804-806.

Safety and Effectiveness of the Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler VYC-17.5L for Nasolabial Folds: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Juvéderm Vollure XC (VYC-17.5L) belongs to a family of nonanimal hyaluronic acid (HA) gels based on the Vycross technology platform. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of VYC-17.5L for correction of moderate to severe nasolabial folds (NLFs) compared with a control HA dermal filler. METHODS: In this double-blind study, 123 adults with 2 moderate or severe NLFs as measured on the 5-point photonumeric NLF severity scale (NLFSS) were randomized to VYC-17.5L in 1 NLF and control in the contralateral NLF. The coprimary effectiveness end points at Month 6 were difference in improvement in mean NLFSS score for VYC-17.5L versus control and NLFSS responder rate (≥1-point improvement) for VYC-17.5L. RESULTS: The coprimary effectiveness end points were met. NLFSS scores improved by 1.4 with VYC-17.5L and by 1.3 with control; NLFSS responder rate with VYC-17.5L was 93.2%. More than three-quarters of subjects (82%) treated with VYC-17.5L were very satisfied at Month 6. Investigators reported that VYC-17.5L was smoother and more natural looking and easier to inject and mold than control. VYC-17.5L resulted in significantly fewer severe injection site responses than control. CONCLUSION: VYC-17.5L was safe and effective for correcting moderate to severe NLFs, with results lasting through 6 months in 93% of subjects.