Botox Treatment – Cosmetic Procedure for Wrinkle Removal could have Lower Doses, be Safer and more Effective

The new combination of Botox could lead to lower price per dose because it would be a lower dose.  Lower doses of the botulinum neurotoxin could help to avoid a complication that can occur with the immune system.  The scientists also say the new combination of botulinum neurotoxin cosmetic treatment of wrinkles could last longer too.

Botulinum neurotoxin is one of the most deadly poisons and considered a possible bioterrorist weapon.  However in the medical world, it has helped treat migraine headaches, lazy eyes, and excessive sweating.  People treated for these other conditions had a side effect of wrinkles disappearing.  This happened because of the neurotoxin caused a paralyzing effects on the muscles.  That is when Botox came to be well known for the treatment of wrinkles.

The lead author of the study, Kim Janda, Ph.D., who is a chemistry professor at Scripps along with his colleagues found a way to make a synthetic molecule that causes the neurotoxin to be 'superactivated'.  The synthetic molecule binds to specific proteins on the neurotoxin.  This causes the toxin's paralyzing effects to be increased.  That makes it more potent with less of the toxin.  The scientists estimate that the 'superactivator' makes the toxin 14 times more potent than regular botulinum neurotoxin.

"We have developed a synthetic molecule that binds to the toxin and increases its normal function," Janda said. "The discovery of small molecule activators may ultimately provide a valuable method for minimizing dosage, reducing resistance, and increasing its clinical efficacy."

At this time the scientist have not tested the 'superactivated' botulinum neurotoxin on humans or animals and it would take at least 4 - 6 years for the proper testing to be completed before it is available to consumers.