FDA Nears Approval of Eyelash Lengthening Drug

Allergan, Inc. the maker of Lumigan, a medication we currently use to lower the intra-ocular pressure in patients with

Photo, Lumigan ophthalmic solution

glaucoma, is expected to receive approval to market Lumigan to patients that wish to lengthen and thicken their eyelashes.  Lumigan is a popular drug for the treatment of glaucoma.  A side affect of Lumigan is that of thickening and lengthening the eyelashes.  Patients often ask us if there is a way to make their eyelases longer and thicker.  The answer was always yes but it’s not approved for that purpose.

The “new drug” will be called Latisse (Bimatoprost Solution 0.03%) and is pending approval for the treatment of hypotrichosis of the eyelashes (reduced amount of hair).  Latisse will cause an increase in the number, thickness and darkness of the eyelashes.  Unlike Lumigan it is not intended to go directly into the eye, but rather on the eyelashes.  Allergan expects to begin marketing Latisse in 2009.

As a side note a few years ago a patient brought a product from the Jan Marini line of skin care products into the office.  The company claimed the product contained a drug that caused the eyelashes to lengthen.  Not long after that the FDA forced it off the market.  I’m glad to see an alternative is just around the corner.

The FDA approves LATISSE(TM) December 26, 2008, read about it here.