Sometimes in the pharmaceutical world, drugs make their way to the market in an unexpected manner. It might surprise you to hear what some of the most popular drugs were intended to treat (Viagra anyone?). In the case of the new eyelash enhancer Latisse, researchers at Allergan Inc. took note of a particular ‘complication’ associated with one of their widely used glaucoma drugs.
The topical prostaglandins lumigan caused a condition called “hypertrichosis,” characterized by darkening, thickening, and lengthening of the eyelashes. The effect was caused by a chemical component called bimatoprost.
Two important precursors to the development of Latisse occurred after that point, when the FDA gave clearance for Lumigan:
$2 million worth of Jan Marini skin research product was seized by the FDA. The product in question - Age Intervention Eyelash - evidently contained bimatoprost, which was unapproved for cosmetic use at the time. Allergan later filed a patent infringement suit against Jan Marini and several other companies that had tried to market bimatoprost in their eyelash enhancing drugs.
Doctors began prescribing Lumigan ‘off-label’ to enhance the eyelashes of their patients. But Lumigan wasn’t formulated for cosmetic use and many believed more research was needed to confirm the safety of topical prostaglandins for cosmetic use.
Research and clinical trials are exactly what Alllergan did. 278 healthy adults with minimal to moderate eyelash prominence applied bimatoprost or a placebo to their lash line. The results were favorable; researchers observed “statistically significant differences in eyelash growth and resulting patient satisfaction” while only 3.6 percent experienced itchy eyes and redness, and only 2.9 percent experienced skin hyperpigmentation.
Latisse received FDA approval late last year for the treatment of ‘inadequate’ eyelashes. For information on Latisse in Bellevue, Washington, contact Overlake Plastic Surgeons.
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