--- title: The FDA puts a wrinkle in Botox’s anti-aging empire by approving a new, young competitor - The Hustle description: The FDA approved a new anti-wrinkle drug made by Evolus that could disrupt Allergan’s Botox-based anti-aging empire. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1789164450-share_me_now_brief_2019-02-06T000906.370Z-1.webp --- # The FDA puts a wrinkle in Botox’s anti-aging empire by approving a new, young competitor ![Conor Grant](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/fMvkaHmG_400x400.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=fMvkaHmG_400x400.jpg) [Conor Grant](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/conor-grant) Published: June 30, 2020 Updated: October 12, 2023 Friday, the FDA [approved](https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/evolus-surges-after-fda-approves-wrinkle-treatment-to-rival-allergan-s-botox-14853761) a new treatment for eliminating wrinkles called Jeuveau. Shares of Jeuveau owner Evolus rose almost 12% after the announcement, while shares of Allergan, the company that makes Botox, fell almost 4%. ![The FDA puts a wrinkle in Botox’s anti-aging empire by approving a new, young competitor](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1789164450-share_me_now_brief_2019-02-06T000906.370Z-1.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1789164450-share_me_now_brief_2019-02-06T000906.370Z-1.webp) But that’s not the story’s last wrinkle: Allergan *also* accused Evolus of stealing its anti-wrinkle recipe and asked the International Trade Commission to investigate. #### **Allergan’s anti-aging empire is built on a secret** Allergan won approval for Botox in 1989 and trademarked its recipe for the drug instead of filing for a patent (which is a more common practice for pharmaceutical compounds).  Unlike a patent, Allergan’s control over its secret recipe will never expire, giving the company extraordinary control over the market: Botox currently accounts for [70%](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-31/botox-maker-allergan-argues-rival-developed-with-stolen-secrets) of the $3.5B US market for wrinkle-eradicating injections.  But on the other hand, Allergan’s recipe isn’t *protected* like a patent — which means competitors can try to replicate the wrinkle recipe. Now, Evolus claims it replicated Allergan’s recipe — but Allergan insists it was stolen.  #### **Like Botox’s younger, smoother brother** When Jeuveau — which was rejected by the FDA in its initial bid 8 months ago — hits the market, Evolus will become the [first](https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/evolus-surges-after-fda-approves-wrinkle-treatment-to-rival-allergan-s-botox-14853761) company in almost 10 years to break into the “aesthetic neurotoxin” market. But more importantly, this youthful alternative to Botox will also cost between 20% and 25% less than Allergan’s elderly anti-aging treatment.  This caused some serious frown lines for Allergan, which is why the company is now going to such great lengths to protect Botox (Allergan doesn’t like losing: It once [transferred](https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/allergan-mohawk-tribe-restasis-supreme-court-patent-case/546180/) an eyedrop patent to a Native American tribe to gain “sovereign immunity” against competitors). #### **Botox may not have any crow’s-feet, but it *****does***** have sharp talons** Allergan [claims](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-31/botox-maker-allergan-argues-rival-developed-with-stolen-secrets) that an ex-employee at partner company Medytox stole its “most secret, most protected manufacturing processes” and gave them to Evolus and now wants the ITC to block its Jeuveau-riche competitor. Evolus says the allegations are “completely without merit” and plans to roll out its product this spring as planned (Allergan has [issued](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-23/botox-maker-allergan-in-patent-spat-over-next-wave-wrinkle-fixer) similar patent infringements before). The stakes here are high for Allergan, which *needs* Botox to give its balance sheets that youthful glow: Botox accounted [23%](https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/evolus-botox-competitor-here-will-it-dent-allergan-s-sales) of the company’s overall revenue last year. ## Follow us on social media Pop up for Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. Always free. 100% fresh. No bullsh*t. JOIN FREE ### 100% Free CRM Nurture and grow your business with customer relationship management software. 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