When the pharmaceutical giant Allergan got FDA approval in 1989 to use Botulinum toxin for clinical use, it represented a medical breakthrough: the first time microbial bacteria was approved for injection into the human body. Better known as the protein that makes up the extremely deadly disease botulism, it would now be marketed as Botox. Now, 30 years later, it is one of the most popular clinical treatments in the world, with applications both cosmetic and therapeutic.
To commemorate 30 years of Botox, two executives from parent Allergan told Cheddar how the brand most commonly known as a wrinkle treatment has morphed into a miracle drug of sorts, with 11 separate therapeutic applications, from overactive bladder to excessive sweating to chronic migraines. More than 100 million vials of Botox have been manufactured worldwide.
"The majority of sales in the U.S. are therapeutic," said Jag Dosanjh, senior vice president of specialty therapeutics at Allergan. "And the markets are growing."
The FDA approved Botox for use in treatment of chronic migraine sufferers back in 2010, and that has become one of its biggest markets now, Dosanjh said. Since then, it has also been approved for urinary incontinence and crow's feet wrinkles. And there's more applications currently being studied, including a possible treatment for major depressive order, according to Dr. Mitchell Brin, Allergan's chief scientific officer for Botox and neurotoxins.
"There are significant regulatory hurdles," Brin said, though that's typical anytime a pharmaceutical company is "breaking new ground."
If you're not a migraine sufferer or excessive sweater (Botox is also a popular treatment for underarm perspiration), you probably know Botox mostly for its popularity as an anti-aging procedure. Kris Jenner is giving Botox treatments as a Christmas gift this year, and doctors report a dramatic increase in people under 30 asking about injections.
Dosanjh and Brin confirmed to Cheddar that millennials are a growing market for Botox, which is perhaps surprising given the generational trend toward body positivity.
Thirty years ago, it may have been hard to imagine that injecting literal botulism toxins into one's face would become so popular. But Botox's efficacy, safety, and status as the market leader has proven it to be a resilient, multi-faceted product.
"If you can connect with the patient in the right way, because the unmet need is so significant... there's still a lot of opportunity," said Dosanjh.
Nvidia on Wednesday became the first public company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. The ravenous appetite for the Silicon Valley company’s chips is the main reason that the company’s stock price has increased so rapidly since early 2023.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global, breaks down September’s CPI print and inflation trends, explaining what it means for markets.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
