Botulinum toxin is widely recognized as a miracle wrinkle-reducer in today’s world of cosmetic treatments. But the history of this drug is as fascinating as its current use in aesthetic medicine.
Discovering the Botulinum toxin
The story of Botulinum toxin begins in the early 19th century with an outbreak of food poisoning caused by sausage meat in Germany. This led to the discovery of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces the potent neurotoxin botulinum toxin, by Dr. Justinus Kerner in the 1820s.
However, it was not until 1946 that Dr. Edward Schantz successfully purified the botulinum toxin type A for the first time. Later, in the 1950s, Dr. Vernon Brooks discovered that when injected into a hyperactive muscle, botulinum toxin could block the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction, thus causing temporary muscle paralysis.
Medical Breakthrough
In the 1970s, Dr. Alan Scott, an ophthalmologist, saw the potential of this toxin in treating strabismus, a condition causing crossed eyes, and other eye muscle disorders. He worked with Dr. Schantz and, after rigorous testing, received FDA approval in 1989 to treat strabismus, blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking), and other eye muscle disorders under the brand name Oculinum.
The company Allergan Inc. bought the rights to Oculinum in 1991, rebranded it as Botulinum toxin, and, in 2002, won FDA approval to use Botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes to treat frown lines between the eyebrows.
Botulinum toxin Today
Since then, the use of Botulinum toxin has dramatically expanded. It is now used to treat a plethora of conditions such as chronic migraines, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), urinary incontinence, and various muscle spasticity disorders. In aesthetics, apart from treating frown lines, it is used to smooth crow’s feet, forehead lines, and more.
The emergence of other botulinum toxin products such as Dysport (known as Azzalure in Europe), Xeomin, and Nuceiva have offered patients more options for treatment. However, Botulinum toxin remains the leading brand.