Galderma’s Restylane Turns 25!

Galderma’s Restylane is celebrating 25 years on the market.

Since launching in Europe in 1996, Restylane has celebrated many milestones across the globe. This includes the first approval for use by FDA in 2003 and in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), (Formerly China Food and Drug Administration or CFDA) in 2008.

Now, in its 25th year, the Restylane portfolio continues to grow and expand. Earlier this month, Restylane Eyelight launched as a targeted treatment solution to combat under-eye shadows. In February 2021, the FDA approved Restylane Defyne for the augmentation and correction of mild-to-moderate chin retrusion for adults over the age of 21.

The Restylane portfolio comprises two complementary gel technologies—the non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) process and Optimal Balance Technology (OBT)—for personalized, natural-looking results.

“The depth of experience from Restylane over the last 25 years has enabled us to build upon our expertise to innovate and develop new formulations and treatments. With over 30 ongoing pipeline projects in aesthetics alone, we will continue to enhance our diverse and broad portfolio of sophisticated brands to advance dermatology for every skin story,” says Flemming Ørnskov, MD, MPH, CEO of Galderma.

New from Sciton: BBLINK Goggles

Sciton Inc. is launching BBLINK Goggles, smart glasses that physically blink for the user in order to block out strain-inducing light flashes. This automatic blinking is intended to produce improved treatment visibility and a more pleasant experience for the practitioner.

BBLINK Goggles feature proprietary technology that connects directly with Sciton BBL systems and receives shutter close commands from the system’s computer slightly before the light flash occurs. This allows users to keep up with the high-speed pulsing of BBL HERO, while still allowing them to see everything but the flash. BBLINK works with all modalities of BBL, including HERO, Forever Young, Forever Bare, and SkinTyte, to block every flash.

“The BBLINK goggles are a huge improvement over existing safety glasses,” shares Boca Raton, FL-based plastic surgeon Jason Pozner, MD. “I don’t want to use BBL without them.”

“Sciton has a 24-year history of raising the bar in aesthetic laser and light technology,” adds Sciton CEO, Aaron Burton. “This innovation and dedication to our partners doesn’t stop at our laser and light technologies. We constantly listen to our user feedback, and the BBLINK Goggles directly results from that feedback. We never stop working to improve the user experience.”

Sciton’s BBLINK Goggles can be purchased at www.sciton.com/store.

Sientra’s Allox2 Helps Manage Seroma and Infection in Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction

The Sientra Allox2 dual port tissue expander enables efficient management of seroma and early targeted intervention in prepectoral breast reconstruction, according to a new study on PRS Global Open.

Seroma are among the most common complications after staged prepectoral implant-based reconstruction. Sientra’s AlloX2 is comprised of a one-of-a-kind dual-port design, which allows for less invasive, non-surgical draining of serous fluids. The AlloX2 is the only tissue expander with an integral drain that provides direct access to the periprosthetic space. The AlloX2 was designed to mitigate risks associated with breast expansion and ultimately reduce reoperation rates.

In the recently published retrospective study, 49 patients underwent 79 prepectoral staged reconstructions, using the Sientra AlloX2 tissue expander. Patients successfully had up to 95cm³ periprosthetic fluid aspirated in clinic through the drain port of the AlloX2, without the need of image-guided intervention. Additionally, aspirated fluid was cultured, which was particularly useful for quick management of infection when encountered.

The authors found the integrated port very useful in efficient management of seroma; they concluded that not only does the AlloX2 permit successful aspiration of periprosthetic fluid, but it also allows aspirated fluid to be sent for culture, thus, providing a lead-time advantage for initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy in cases of postoperative surgical site infection if required. The authors further note that the ability of the Allox2 to permit early intervention and fluid aspiration potentially contributed to preventing additional procedures and hospital costs.

Galderma and Cetaphil Launch New Clear Skies Initiative

Galderma and Cetaphil recently launched the Clear Skies initiative, a long-term commitment to supporting a healthier environment.

Galderma says it has made great strides to reduce its environmental footprint over the past decade, and Clear Skies outlines the company’s journey to embed responsible practices across the business. Clear Skies is set against four key areas in which the organization can make an impact: reducing environmental impact, formulating with cleaner ingredients, using smarter packaging and serving its communities.

Through this strategic initiative, Galderma and Cetaphil aim to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity in its current factories by 2022 and become carbon neutral in its production facilities.

Clear Skies will support the company’s efforts towards being more sustainable by using fewer resources and creating less waste. The science-based approach is based on comprehensive research from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Reducing environmental impact. Since 2010, Galderma and Cetaphil have reduced water consumption by 33 percent per ton of product, through programs to recycle and reuse it in factories and research facilities. The company also reduced annual CO₂ emissions from factories by over 60 percent, by using more efficient technology and renewable sources of electricity. Currently, 95 percent of the electricity that powers its factories come from renewable resources and none of the waste from factories ends up in a landfill.

Formulating with cleaner ingredients. Cetaphil is also reformulating products to provide consumers with the cleaner formulas they are looking for. Gentle Skin Cleanser, Daily Facial Cleanser, Moisturizing Lotion and Advanced Relief Lotion (Daily Advanced Lotion) are now made with readily biodegradable formulas, with additional products to be reformulated in the future. These reformulated products are free of parabens, sulfates, and animal origin ingredients, and are not tested on animals at any stage of our product innovation, development or manufacturing processes. They are developed with a blend of hydrating and skin-conditioning ingredients—including a dermatologist-backed blend of niacinamide, panthenol and glycerin to improve the overall resilience of sensitive skin—all while maintaining the same efficacy and sensorial experience that Cetaphil consumers know and love. The reformulated products will launch in the US this month and will roll out globally by the end of 2022.

Using smarter packaging. Product packaging is also being improved to ensure that it can be recycled to serve a new purpose. Cetaphil uses mostly mono-material containers and closures that are in part recyclable, so containers and packaging can be recycled at most recycling facilities. Additionally, most products use containers and closure systems that come apart, making it easier to sort them. The paper-based packaging is made with renewable and biodegradable materials. Cetaphil says it will continue to identify ways to make their packaging more environmentally friendly.

Serving communities. In the US, Cetaphil’s decade-long partnership with Camp Wonder has allowed the organization to help those most severely impacted by skin diseases. Founded by the Children’s Skin Disease Foundation, the camp empowers children with chronic and life-threatening skin diseases from around the country to enjoy themselves in an environment of acceptance. Cetaphil employees and partnering healthcare professionals are encouraged to volunteer at Camp Wonder. Additionally, Cetaphil has committed to a long-term funding partnership in support of Camp Wonder, donating $1.5M and over 50,000 products since 2012. As the reach of the Clear Skies initiative continues to expand, Cetaphil will look to extend its efforts beyond Camp Wonder to identify organizations around the world the company can support to further its mission of caring for sensitive skin.

ellacor Maker Cytrellis Closes Funding Round

Cytrellis has closed a $50 million Series C funding round. Proceeds will be utilized to develop the company’s commercial infrastructure as well as support additional clinical research, product development, and manufacturing. ellacor System with Micro-Coring Technology from Cytrellis recently received FDA clearance for use by medical professionals for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles in the mid to lower face in adults aged 22 years or older with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. This clearance provides a pathway to an initial commercial rollout, which Cytrellis intends to execute with a small group of key physicians, the company says. Cytrellis anticipates a full national rollout in 2022.

global Medical Aesthetics Market Value to Hit $20.4B By 2026

The Global Medical Aesthetics Market, valued at USD 10.1 billion in 2018, is expected to reach USD 20.4 billion in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period, according to the latest report from All The Research.

The rapidly growing aging population and considerable focus on personal grooming are primarily driving the demand for medical aesthetics products, according to the report. By 2050, one in four persons living in Europe and North America could be aged 65 or over, according to UN data. The number of persons aged 80 years or over is projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050.

Based on end-users, the homecare segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of around 11.5% during the forecast period

North America accounted for around 35% share of the global medical aesthetics market in 2018.

COVID Pandemic Linked to Increased Sadness, Fear Among Medical Caregivers

Researchers discovered patterns of significantly decreased joy, increased sadness, fear and disgust among health care professionals (HCP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), is reportedly the largest social media study to track emotional changes and discourse during the pandemic.

The multidisciplinary BGU team analyzed more than 53,000 HCP tweets from followers of several hundred Twitter accounts of health care organizations and common HCP points of interest. The most significant topics HCPs discussed during the pandemic were COVID-19 information, public health and social values, medical studies as well as daily life and food. Approximately 44 percent of the discourse was about professional topics during the entire 2020 year.

The study will be published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. It was funded by the BGU Coronavirus Taskforce and by an Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology Coronavirus research grant.

“Our findings, which track increasing sadness and decreasing joy, should be a warning to health organizations about how the importance of better mental health support to help HCPs cope with emotional pandemic consequences,” says Dr. Rami Puzis, BGU’s Software and Information System Engineering Department (SISE), and Dr. Odeya Cohen, of the Department of Nursing. “Most interestingly, HCP tweets expressed greater levels of fear just prior to pandemic waves in 2020. This indicates that many HCPs, beyond those working in epidemiology, observed, and were adequately qualified to anticipate pandemic development.”

AbbVie, BTL Settle

Under terms of the settlement agreement, AbbVie will pay BTL an undisclosed payment. The details of the agreement are confidential and will not be disclosed. All litigation pending between the parties will be dismissed.

Crown to Acquire StriVectin

Crown Laboratories is slated to acquire StriVectin from the private equity firm L Catterton. StriVectin’s products will become part of Crown’s new Premium Skincare Division and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Crown Laboratories. StriVectin’s President, Cori Aleardi, will become President and CCO of Crown and will join the Crown Executive Leadership Team.

Alisa Lask Joins CollPlant’s Board of Directors

Industry vet Alisa Lask is now a member of CollPlant’s Board of Directors. Ms. Lask is based in the US and has held leadership roles in medical aesthetics at both Galderma and Allergan. She will be the seventh independent member of the CollPlant Board. CollPlant is a regenerative and aesthetic medicine company developing innovative technologies and products for tissue regeneration and organ manufacturing.

Kate Beckinsale Joins MRVL as the Face of its Skin Care Line

Kate Beckinsale is the face of MRVL Skin Solutions, an anti-aging skincare line launching this fall. MRVL Skin Solutions is based on a novel ingredient in anti-aging: a Blue Scorpion Peptide. This peptide helps stimulate natural collagen production, fights free radicals, helps regenerate symptoms of damaged skin and smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Bausch Pursues IPO of Solta

Bausch Health Companies, Inc. is planning to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) of its Solta Medical business. Solta’s portfolio includes the Thermage RF systems, Fraxel laser, Clear + Brilliant laser and VASER ultrasonic systems.