Allergan announces intent to file eyelash stimulant with FDA

IRVINE, Calif. Allergan announced today that it intends to file an application with the Food and Drug Administration for bimatoprost, a synthetic prostaglandin analog, as a treatment to stimulate eyelash growth, by end of the third quarter of 2008 after receiving promising results from a clinical trial.

“Our exploration of bimatoprost as an eyelash growth enhancer reflects our continuing commitment to offer innovative medical aesthetic treatments that are science-based, with the clinically proven safety and efficacy that consumers have come to trust Allergan to provide,” said Scott Whitcup, Allergan’s executive vice president, research and development. “We are pleased with the results of our clinical program and believe this innovative product, if approved, could meet a significant and currently unmet demand in the medical aesthetic marketplace.”

According to Allergan, the global mascara market is presently estimated to be $3.7 billion annually. Allergan currently anticipates the product to be approved by the FDA in 2009 and to have annual sales that exceed $500 million.