What Is Daxxify, The New Botox Alternative?

This fall, the FDA approved a new anti-wrinkle injectable that is supposed to have longer-lasting effects than Botox. If you aren’t familiar with Botox, they are an injection-based treatment for the temporary improvement of frown lines or facial wrinkles in adults.

What you should know

Daxxify, or DaxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm, is in a family of medicines known as neuromodulators, which includes the drugs Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. Daxxify is the first and only peptide-formulated neuromodulator that, for some patients, demonstrated an average duration of six to nine months.

The [Daxxify] injections immobilize facial muscles by blocking the body’s neuromuscular signals. This modulation of the neuromuscular system will prevent the muscles from contracting normally and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the face, says Dr. Emma Saunders, PharmD.

This new drug could be the first to compete with the market leader, Botox. Because of Daxxify’s longer-lasting effects, it may become the new go-to for anti-wrinkle upkeep. If it is your first time trying neuromodular treatments, you may want to opt for another brand because of its longer lasting effects-- it is not a beginner-friendly option.

Revance Therapeutics, the pharmaceutical company behind Daxxify, found a way to keep the formula stable with a peptide technology, instead of the human serum albumin or animal-based components that were typically used, making it one of the only vegan formulations on the market.

*Note that it is not a vegan product as it was tested on animals, like its other competitors on the market.

The side effects seemed to be minimal from the clinical studies, but you should always use caution when choosing a treatment. According to Revance Therapeutics researchers didn’t observe any serious treatment-related side effects. The most common treatment-related adverse events observed were headache (6%) followed by eyelid ptosis (2%) and facial paresis, including facial asymmetry (1%), according to their trials.

Will it work therapeutically?

So far, it seems that Daxxify can be used for other purposes. Though we often think of neuromodulators being used for aesthetic purposes, they can also be used therapeutically for chronic pain or to treat other issues. Neuromodulators can be used for individuals with chronic pain or migraines, overactive sweat glands, or overactive bladder the same way Botox can.

Look for it in early 2023 as it is not yet on the market. Daxxify may become the next household name replacing Botox for good.

*If you're looking to trial Daxxify or other neuromodulators, please do your research and consult with an expert before getting treated