Award-winning Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith and Allergan, Inc. Reveal Changes in Women's Perceptions of BOTOX Cosmetic Over Nearly a Decade

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Since BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) almost 10 years ago, there have been approximately 11 million treatments administered.  In that time, women's perceptions of BOTOX® Cosmetic have changed, and Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN), maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic, is sharing key data on these changes:

• The number of women considering talking to their doctors about BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment more than quadrupled from 1.3 million in 2002 to 5.8 million(i) in 2010.
• The number of women who think that BOTOX® Cosmetic is an effective means for treating frown lines between the eyebrows has increased from 21 percent when the product was approved to 79 percent in 2010(ii).

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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111006/MM81036 )

Moreover, the BOTOX® Cosmetic patient profile has evolved and today's "typical" patient is a highly educated, working woman in her 40s.  Sixty-four percent of BOTOX® Cosmetic patients hold a four-year college degree or a post-graduate degree, and 74 percent work a full- or part-time job.  Women have also become more open about treatment; in fact, 90 percent of women who have been treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic say they would recommend treatment to a friend.

"Women's understanding and appreciation of BOTOX® Cosmetic has significantly evolved over the past decade, and as the market leader, we continually invest in educational initiatives that provide women with relevant information they need to make well-informed decisions about treatment," said Colleen McKenna, Senior Marketing Director, Allergan Medical. "Our partnership with actress Courtney Thorne-Smith and the non-profit organization HealthyWomen is our latest initiative to address pressing questions women have about medical aesthetic injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic."  

Allergan and HealthyWomen, the nation's leading independent health information source for women, conducted a Harris Interactive® nationwide survey to identify the most common questions women have about medical aesthetic injectable treatments.  Courtney Thorne-Smith validates she had many of the same questions before she was first treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic.  

"I've been treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic for nearly 10 years, and while I think it's become more mainstream, many women have the same questions I initially had," said Courtney Thorne-Smith. "It's important for women to understand there is nothing wrong with considering BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.  There may still be a taboo about this, yet women need to know about resources that address their questions," added the 43-year-old actress who received a Screen Actors Guild Award for her outstanding performance on Ally McBeal and appears on Two and a Half Men this season.  

"With other injectable treatment options now available, it is more important than ever that women not confuse other products with BOTOX® Cosmetic, or assume they are the same, because each has a unique safety and efficacy profile," added McKenna. "Allergan understands what is important to physicians and consumers who want aesthetic treatments, like BOTOX® Cosmetic, rooted in science."

"For me, I like that BOTOX® Cosmetic is not a new treatment.  My physician has a lot of experience with BOTOX® Cosmetic and has treated me for many years, so I am consistently satisfied with my results," said Thorne-Smith.  "Through this initiative I am able to help provide women with accurate answers to their own questions, and underscore the importance of going to a trained and qualified doctor for treatment."

"Many women have questions about medical aesthetic treatments and want to be better informed," said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, R.N., executive director of HealthyWomen. "Our website, HealthyWomen.org, can help women find answers to the most common questions about these treatments, and also provides important considerations for visiting a trained, aesthetic-specialty physician."

According to the survey of 826 U.S. women ages 35 to 65 conducted by Allergan and HealthyWomen, the most common questions about medical aesthetic injectable treatments, like BOTOX® Cosmetic, include:  

1. Are these products safe? Each aesthetic injectable treatment has a unique safety and efficacy profile and treatments are not interchangeable.  For every injectable treatment, including BOTOX® Cosmetic, it's important to review the Important Safety Information and Medication Guide with your physician as serious side effects can occur.  The most common side effects include pain or temporary bruising at the injection site, temporary tiredness, headache and nausea.  
2. How much do these treatments cost? Cost varies across the country based on a number of factors.  According to an American Society of Plastic Surgeons survey, the average cost of BOTOX® Cosmetic is approximately $400 for treatment of the glabellar lines between the brows.
3. Will my face still have expression? Injectable treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic should not radically change one's appearance.  When BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered by an experienced physician, a person can still frown and look surprised without those moderate to severe lines – also known as the "11" – between the brows.  
4. How long does treatment last? Minimally invasive treatments are temporary.  BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment effects can last up to four months.  
5. Is treatment painful? Discomfort associated with the injection is usually minimal and brief, and your physician may apply an ice pack or anesthetic cream.  

To view the full list of the most common questions as identified by the survey and the answers, visit www.HealthyWomen.org or www.BOTOXCosmetic.com.

About BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA), a prescription medicine, is a purified protein that temporarily improves the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows in adults younger than 65 years of age.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered by a healthcare professional as a simple, nonsurgical treatment that is injected directly into the muscles between the brows.  It works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles.  This temporarily reduces muscle activity that causes persistent lines to form between the brows.

BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) Important Information

Indication

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in people 18 to 65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months
• Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities  

The dose of BOTOX® Cosmetic is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy

welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not take BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.   

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing) from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles, such as trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Human albumin and spread of viral diseases. BOTOX® Cosmetic contains albumin, a protein component of human blood.  The potential risk of spreading viral diseases [eg Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)] via human serum albumin is extremely rare. No cases of viral diseases or CJD have ever been reported in association with human serum albumin.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.

Especially tell your doctor if you: have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin, such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (be sure your doctor knows exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; or take a sleep medicine.

Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.  

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see enclosed  BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

About HealthyWomen

HealthyWomen (HW) is the nation's leading independent health information source for women. For more than 20 years, women have been coming to HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions. HealthyWomen provides health information through its wide array of online content and print publications that is original, objective, reviewed and approved by medical experts and reflects the latest advances in evidence-based health research. Its award-winning website, www.HealthyWomen.org®, has been recognized by ForbesWoman as one of the "Top 100 Websites for Women" for two consecutive years and was named the top women's health website by Dr. Mehmet Oz in O, The Oprah Magazine. For more information, visit www.HealthyWomen.org.

About Allergan, Inc.

Allergan is a multi-specialty health care company established more than 60 years ago with a commitment to uncover the best of science and develop and deliver innovative and meaningful treatments to help people reach their life's potential. Today, we have more than 9,000 highly dedicated and talented employees, global marketing and sales capabilities with a presence in more than 100 countries, a rich and ever-evolving portfolio of pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and over-the-counter consumer products, and state-of-the-art resources in R&D, manufacturing and safety surveillance that help millions of patients see more clearly, move more freely and express themselves more fully. From our beginnings as an eye care company to our focus today on several medical specialties, including ophthalmology, neurosciences, medical aesthetics, medical dermatology, breast aesthetics, obesity intervention and urologics, Allergan is proud to celebrate 60 years of medical advances and proud to support the patients and physicians who rely on our products and the employees and communities in which we live and work.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements", including but not limited to the statements by Colleen McKenna, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill regarding BOTOX® Cosmetic as well as other statements regarding the survey conducted by Allergan and HealthyWomen, research and development outcomes, efficacy, adverse reactions and market and product potential. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Allergan's expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, general industry and pharmaceutical market conditions; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in the research and development and regulatory processes; challenges related to new product marketing, such as the unpredictability of market acceptance for new pharmaceutical products and/or the acceptance of new indications for such products; inconsistency of treatment results among patients; potential difficulties in manufacturing a new product; general economic conditions; and governmental laws and regulations affecting domestic and foreign operations. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors can be found in Allergan's public periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the heading "Risk Factors" in Allergan's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

© 2011 Allergan, Inc. Irvine, CA 92612.  ® and ™ marks owned by Allergan, Inc.

Dysport® is a registered trademark of Ipsen Biopharm Limited
Myobloc® is a registered trademark of Solstice Neurosciences, Inc
Xeomin® is a registered trademark of Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA.

Harris Interactive® is a mark owned by Harris Interactive.  

© 2011 Screen Actors Guild. All Rights Reserved

APC81YX11

i. Allergan Data on File; Global Literature & Information Services

ii. Allergan Data on File

SOURCE Allergan, Inc.