Tweet
By Deborah Huso Jan 13th 2011 1:19PM
Categories: News
It's the consummate symbol of aging and putting on that middle-age pudge -- the dreaded double chin. But now there may be a remedy for that extra chin fat, besides surgery.
Bayer Healthcare, based in Leverkusen, Germany, has developed a drug called ATX-101, which is designed to reduce small volumes of facial fat for good.
"ATX-101 creates an osmotic imbalance in fat cells, causing excess water to come into the cells and expand until they burst," explains Dr. Mitch Chasin, medical director at the Reflections Center for Skin and Body in New Jersey. According to Chasin, this process is called cytolysis, and it occurs when ATX-101 is injected under the skin.
This minimally invasive procedure is done with little or no anesthesia and is supposed to yield consistent and meaningful clinical results. The procedure is administered through a series of 40 to 70 mini-injections and works by dissolving small volumes of fat cells, according to the Daily Mail.
Bayer says initial trials have shown the product to be safe and effective. But Chasin says he needs to see further studies before he can back it.
"I don't want to recommend this option -- yet," Chasin adds. "ATX-101 shows promise, but it's just too soon to know if it's safe and effective. Plus ATX-101 doesn't offer the skin tightening that laser liposuction does, so depending on the cost of the procedure, laser lipo could remain the better option."
Laser liposuction also removes the fat cells and tightens the skin in a minimally invasive method.
Dr. Norman M. Rowe, a cosmetic surgeon in New York City, agrees. "I am very excited about this option for the correct patient," he says. "However, I want to see more studies and a bit more data on results and side effects." Rowe says patients also have a few other options available including Botox and Dysport that can treat forms of [double chins]."
The two surgeons say it is too soon to tell what side effects may result from this drug.
"In clinical trials in Europe and the United States, there do not appear to be harmful side effects, but keep in mind the studies are not complete," says Rowe.
"The data from their recently completed Phase IIB FDA trial has not yet been released, and that's typically when many side effects are first uncovered," adds Chasin.
The company now plans to test the drug on 720 people at more than 60 locations throughout the U.K. and Europe.
Bayer hopes to launch the drug in selected markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America starting in 2014.
Categories: News
It's the consummate symbol of aging and putting on that middle-age pudge -- the dreaded double chin. But now there may be a remedy for that extra chin fat, besides surgery.
Bayer Healthcare, based in Leverkusen, Germany, has developed a drug called ATX-101, which is designed to reduce small volumes of facial fat for good.
"ATX-101 creates an osmotic imbalance in fat cells, causing excess water to come into the cells and expand until they burst," explains Dr. Mitch Chasin, medical director at the Reflections Center for Skin and Body in New Jersey. According to Chasin, this process is called cytolysis, and it occurs when ATX-101 is injected under the skin.
This minimally invasive procedure is done with little or no anesthesia and is supposed to yield consistent and meaningful clinical results. The procedure is administered through a series of 40 to 70 mini-injections and works by dissolving small volumes of fat cells, according to the Daily Mail.
Bayer says initial trials have shown the product to be safe and effective. But Chasin says he needs to see further studies before he can back it.
"I don't want to recommend this option -- yet," Chasin adds. "ATX-101 shows promise, but it's just too soon to know if it's safe and effective. Plus ATX-101 doesn't offer the skin tightening that laser liposuction does, so depending on the cost of the procedure, laser lipo could remain the better option."
Laser liposuction also removes the fat cells and tightens the skin in a minimally invasive method.
Dr. Norman M. Rowe, a cosmetic surgeon in New York City, agrees. "I am very excited about this option for the correct patient," he says. "However, I want to see more studies and a bit more data on results and side effects." Rowe says patients also have a few other options available including Botox and Dysport that can treat forms of [double chins]."
The two surgeons say it is too soon to tell what side effects may result from this drug.
"In clinical trials in Europe and the United States, there do not appear to be harmful side effects, but keep in mind the studies are not complete," says Rowe.
"The data from their recently completed Phase IIB FDA trial has not yet been released, and that's typically when many side effects are first uncovered," adds Chasin.
The company now plans to test the drug on 720 people at more than 60 locations throughout the U.K. and Europe.
Bayer hopes to launch the drug in selected markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America starting in 2014.
Comment