Botox gets UK approval for use on crow's feet

Facial injectable Botox has been approved for use on crow's feet by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA, which governs its use in the UK.

Allergan, the manufacturer of the injectable drug, received a licence for this new indication. The decision follows a similar licence for use in the US, granted in September by the Food & Drug Administration. 

The new licence approves the drug for "temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet) seen at maximum smile, either alone or when treated at the same time as glabellar (or frown) lines seen at maximum frown, in adult patients where these facial lines have an important psychological impact." 

The authorisation is specific to Allergan’s botulinum toxin type A product and was granted based on the results of the brand's  clinical trials  for crow’s feet involving more than 1,350 patients. 

Botox has long been used to treat glabellar lines alone but this licence marks the first time it can legally be used on this new area of the face.