What is Botox?
Botulinum toxin A is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It's a very poisonous substances but when used correctly, can enhance beauty, reduce wrinkles and recent studies reveal it can also treat treat headaches and migraines.
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Although it is lethal and very dangerous in the wrong hands, it can be used in very small and diluted quantities both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment.
The price of Botox is set to drop dramatically for patients as a result of Allergan, the manufacturer, losing its patent for the drug in 2006 in the High Court. When an organisation owns a patent for a drug like Botox, it can charge as much as it likes because no other manufacturer can supply a competitive product using the same formula.
However, if they lose their patent, they lose their monopoly and competitors will be allowed to make and supply their own versions of that drug under different brand names. This could be great news for people looking for 'Botox-like' treatment.
Having said that, we have all become so familiar with the term Botox to describe the product it is quite likely that we will continue to refer to any future Botulinum toxin A product as Botox. The same thing has happened with Hoover. We all refer to a vacuum cleaner as a hoover, and a portable CD player as a Walkman, when these are actually tradenames. So all might not be lost for Allergan after all. If you want anti-wrinkle treatment you are still likely to ask for Botox, even though the doctor may have many alternative similar products he could give you.
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Botox® is manufactured in USA by Allergan, Inc.
Dysport® is manufactured in Britain by Ipsen Limited